How to Encourage Your Child to Read More?
Introduction
If you're a parent, it's likely that you want your children to grow up with an appreciation for books. Reading is one of the most important skills to master in life, and it can open up a whole new world for your child. In this article, we'll show you how to help encourage your child to read more by creating a comfortable reading environment and encouraging them as often as possible!
Start reading to your baby.
Reading since they are babies is a great way to help them learn how to talk. While they can't read words, they can listen and learn new words. Reading books that have rhyming words or repetition of sounds will help them start recognizing the patterns of language and developing their vocabulary.
Reading aloud is also a great way for parents and children to bond with each other. Studies have shown that children who are read aloud too frequently are more likely to enjoy reading on their own as adults, so it's important that you make time for this activity every day!
Let your young child look at books for fun.
Whether you have a toddler or an older child, the most important thing to do is to let your kids look at books for fun. Don't force them to sit still and read. Instead, give them a variety of books and let them choose what they want to read when they want to read it, and how they want to read it (if at all).
While it's tempting for parents who love reading themselves—and may even hope that their children will grow up loving it as well—to push kids into reading for long stretches at a time without breaks, think about how children learn best: through play! Children are naturally curious about the world around them; if given access to books from an early age up through childhood, many will develop an interest in reading by simply looking at pictures or turning pages as they play.
Understand your child's reading level.
Understanding your child's reading level is the first step in helping him or her become a better reader. It's important to understand your child's reading level so that you can match books with the appropriate reading material.
If you're unsure how well your child reads, there are several ways to find out:
Read the book yourself and see how far along he or she gets. This will give you an idea of whether or not he or she has mastered certain words and concepts in particular areas of language arts (like grammar, vocabulary, and spelling).
Check out a copy of the book at the library. If they finish it before returning it on time (or even if they don't!), just check out another copy until they do return it! The best thing about this method is that it doesn't cost any money—it's free! Remember though: always have fun when reading together too!
Use the library as a resource.
One of the best ways to encourage your child to read more is to get them into a library. There, they can borrow books for free, and they can take home as many books as they want. You can also check out audiobooks and ebooks if you don't have time to check out physical copies or if they don't have something you want in stock.
The library offers so much more than just borrowing books—it's also a place where kids can learn about the world and expand their horizons beyond what their school provides. So go ahead: get your kid started on this new adventure by bringing them into the library the next time you visit!
Make sure there are books in your home.
You can't expect your child to read if you don't have books in the house. It's as simple as that. But how many books do you need? And which ones should they be? Here are some tips:
Make sure there are plenty of books available for your children at all times, especially those who are reading below grade level. If a child is struggling with reading and has few options at home, it's easy for frustration to set in. Having access to lots of high-interest titles will help keep them motivated!
For each child, make sure there are 1-2 personal favorites they can grab anytime they want and read on their own (this could include chapter books), plus 5-6 volumes of their favorite series or genre (e.g., fantasy or middle grade fiction). You may also want to include a few short book collections from other authors/illustrators whose work appeals to your son or daughter—maybe even one print copy for every two digital copies so he or she doesn't feel like he has "too much" access!
Read with your child frequently and make it fun.
Remember that reading is not just a fun activity for your child—it's also a way to spend time with them and increase their vocabulary. The more often you read with your children, the more likely they will enjoy it. If you make reading a part of daily family life, your kids will look forward to spending time with you!
Reading aloud at bedtime is one of the best ways to get children interested in books. Let them choose some favourites (picture books or novels) as long as they're appropriate for their age level, then snuggle up together under a blanket or in front of the fireplace and read. You can even bring them along on trips by bringing along some audiobooks or ebooks so that everyone has something interesting to listen or to read!
Help your child find books about topics that are interesting to him or her.
Help your child find books about topics that are interesting to him or her. If your son is a big fan of soccer, for example, there are plenty of books about the sport out there. You can look for biographies about famous players who have inspired your son to play soccer and continue playing it in college or beyond. If your daughter loves animals—and especially dogs—you can help her find novels that feature dogs as main characters or even just dog-focused stories with lots of cute photos.
If your child is really into something like dinosaurs or outer space (or maybe both), try looking at book series on those topics and buying one that looks good based on reviews, ratings and other information provided by other parents who have also purchased these titles before.
Do not force reading on your child, but make it a part of everyday life.
Do not force reading on your child, but make it a part of everyday life.
Children should be exposed to books and encouraged to read, but doing so in a way that feels fun and not like a chore will help them develop a love of reading. When you make reading into a routine part of everyday life, it becomes normal for your child. As they grow older, they will be able to pick up the habit on their own.
You can also encourage your child to read by reading aloud together as an adult or as another family member. Even if they are too old for this type of interaction now, try it out when they are younger; it could help them fall in love with the experience later on in life!
Kids should enjoy reading, and not feel pressured into doing it more.
Kids should enjoy reading, and not feel pressured into doing it more. Sometimes the best way to encourage your child to read is by taking time to read aloud to them, setting up quiet spaces for reading, and buying lots of books.
Challenge your child with a book club
A book club is a great way to get your child excited about reading by giving them the opportunity to read a variety of books and discuss them with their peers. You can start by discussing the book you are currently reading together (or have recently finished). This gives the child a chance to talk about what they liked or didn't like about it, as well as share ideas for future books. If your child is old enough, ask him or her if he would like to help pick out books for you both!
Offer incentives or rewards
Rewards are positive reinforcements, meaning they are a way to encourage positive behaviour and motivate your child. You can use rewards as a way to show your child that you are proud of them. If you want to reward your child for reading more books, then offering incentives or rewards is a great way to do so.
Rewards should be something that your child wants, but cannot get on their own. For example: if your child loves trains then taking them on a train ride would be a great reward!
If there isn't anything special in mind for a certain amount of time spent reading then consider creating some sort of chart or sticker system where each book read gets them closer to earning something fun like going out for ice cream after dinner one night!
Let them select their own books
More than 90 percent of kids enjoy the books they choose themselves. Encourage your child to read books they want to read. At first, it may seem like you should be selecting books for your child to read. You may think that the best way to get them interested in reading is by finding a book you like and then making them read it because you like it. However, this can be detrimental for several reasons:
It takes away from the experience of reading a book when someone else makes all of the decisions about what should be read and how long each chapter should take.
It doesn't allow for children's imaginations to run wild with their ideas about what happens next in the story or where characters are going when they leave one place behind for another place further along the plot line (or whatever!).
Be a good role model
Be a good role model
Your child will learn to read by watching you read, so make sure that you are reading every day! If you have time, try going through a book together. If not, then let them know what books you're reading and why. For example: "I'm reading this book because I heard it's really good."
Read aloud to your child
It doesn't matter if it's in the morning or before bedtime—just pick up a book and start reading! You'll help improve their listening skills while also giving them plenty of exposure to new vocabulary words (and maybe even some laughs).
You can encourage your kids to read more by taking time to read aloud to them, setting up quiet spaces for reading, and buying lots of books.
The most important thing you can do to encourage your child to read is to read aloud with them. Reading aloud to children helps them learn how to read, as well as develop a love of reading.
There are many benefits to reading aloud, including:
It helps develop language skills in your child
It encourages curiosity and imagination in your child
You can instill lifelong habits of daily reading
Conclusion
This is a great time to encourage your child to read more. With so many books and other reading material available, there’s no excuse for not enjoying reading. You can make your child read more by providing them with positive reinforcement and encouragement when they do pick up a book.
Additional Resources
Encouraging your child to read
Scholastic - 3 ways to encourage your child to read