How to make reading a part of your child’s life.

Every parent knows the value of cultivating the habit of reading; however, most of us, despite our best efforts, have seen our attempts at making our children develop the habit of reading fail.

For example, I have taken my daughter along to the local library and deliberately left her to her devices. Invariably, she gravitates to the comics section and comes back with a handful of comics.

Though this is not desired result, I always encouraged her in the belief that she will grow out of this. Unfortunately,
despite my best attempts to wean her away and make her to read something more than comics, I failed.

You can look at my experience in two ways. Like me, you can be happy that she is reading something or dissatisfied with the result of my feeble attempts.

Leaving aside, my small success in getting my daughter read, I chanced upon this article in the ‘American Profile’, as I looked for proven ways to make reading a part of my child’s life

According to it, this is how you get your children hooked on books:

Talk with your children:

Talking about everything and anything that you see and do helps children build vocabulary and language skills.

Be a reading role model:

Make reading material accessible, and let kids see you enjoy reading.

Read to your child for 10 to 15 minutes a day:

Let them choose what they want to read

Hook them on a series:

A book series can keep children engaged and engrossed. They are available for every age group.

Reward your child with reading time:

Some kids will do anything to stay up a few minutes longer at night.

Try technology.

Many books, authors and publishers offer online activities such as games involving the main characters or ways to connect with other fans.

I am sure that we all have at one point or another tried and failed in using some of the variants of the tips given above. However, we should not stop, for each book is a universe on its own and as a parent, it is our duty to introduce our children to as many new ones as possible.

P.S:

Dear Reader, if you were successful in inculcating the reading habit in your children, please mention them in the comments section, so other like me can benefit.