Most children learn how to read, but not all children acquire the habit of reading. Parents play a large role in helping their children develop good reading habits. The following tips may be helpful to you:
Talk with your children about reading. Ask your children to tell you about books and stories they have read. Tell your children about your own reading. Make reading the topic of family discussions.
Visit the library with your children. Visits to the library can be a great family activity. Enjoy browsing with your children. Be sure your children know how to use a library card.
Make time for family reading. Family life can be very busy, leaving little time for reading. Make reading a family activity by occasionally setting aside 30 minutes or more for everyone to read. Turn off the television. Let each family member select his or her own reading material. Enjoy quiet time reading together.
Give books as gifts to your children. Books make wonderful gifts for birthdays and other special occasions.
Read aloud with your children. Children are never too old to read aloud. Parents often read to their children when the children are small. When children first learn to read, they read aloud to their parents. But when children get older, they often stop reading aloud with their parents. Keep alive the enjoyable activity of reading aloud. Share favorite passages with your children.
Use the newspaper as a tool for encouraging the habit of reading. Talk about the newspaper with your children. Show young children the different sections in the newspaper. Clip articles and share them with your children. Encourage your children to clip articles to share with the family.
Encourage children to read to prepare for family activities. Before a family vacation, outing, or special event, ask your children to read about the location or activity and to report the information to the family.
From Solid Foundation, © Copyright 2008, Academic Development Institute
