Reading is good for the brain and has several benefits for your children. It can boost your creativity, improve your writing skills, improve your vocabulary and language skills, engage your imaginations and gain more knowledge.
Children who read from an early age find it easier to adapt at school. Once they start attending school, all the books, homework and notes on the board given by the teachers all involve reading. Reading will teach a child much more than what you can imagine. Reading is the backbone of education, but sadly, most children prefer to watch TV or play video games instead of reading a book. The main reason is that modern parents do not concentrate on developing reading habits in their children. If your children do not enjoy reading when they are young, they are unlikely to do so when they get older.
Here are some tips that can help to develop reading habits in your children:
1. Create a reading space
It is essential to create a reading space for your children. It doesn’t have to be significant. Grab a bean bag chair, fun accessories, a variety of books and a comfy spot with enough light. There should be no TV or computer and no music or noisy family members in this place. The organised and well-maintained reading space helps your children to read effectively.
2. Regular library/book stores visit
Be sure to bring your children to any library or bookstore at least once a week. These are great places for children to explore new books and authors. The trips to the library create an opportunity to develop good reading habits and see other kids doing similar things.
3. Set a positive example in front of your children
Parents are role models for children. Instead of spending many hours watching TV whole night, let your children see your passion for reading magazines, books or other types of reading materials. If you want your children to read more, you might consider cutting back on TV or Internet consumption. Every minute you reduce TV/Internet consumption, you could use this time for reading. This could create hours of book reading time.
4. Let your children pick and read as per their interest
Rather than forcing your children to read what you want during their rest time, motivate them to read what they are interested in. They may prefer stories about mystery, science fiction, animal fiction, or fairy tales. Let your children choose reading materials that will pique their interest.
5. Fill your home with books
Give your children easy access to books at home, surround them with all different kinds of books like magazines, comics and other sorts of reading materials. This helps them understand that reading doesn’t have to be limited in school.
6. Read to your children
You must read to them. Creating the reading habit in your children is the best way to ensure that they will be readers when they grow up. Find some great children’s books and read to them. At the same time, you will develop the reading habit in yourself and spend quality time with your children.
7. Schedule a time for reading and make reading a daily habit
Make reading part of your children’s nighttime routine. You can schedule their time to read after dinner or before going to sleep. This habit helps your children learn to associate reading with relaxation.
8. Replace other forms of entertainment with reading
An excellent way to read more is to replace other forms of entertainment with reading. Instead of watching movies, playing video games or mindlessly browsing social media, we suggest you let your children read a book.
