How to Help Your Child Become an Enthusiastic Reader

 

A fondness for reading, properly directed, must be an education in itself.

~Jane Austen

 

Today’s post is a guest article written by Yin Mones. She writes for The Mini Ark, a website dedicated to giving “…parents and children a way to bond and connect over the greatest stories and truths, growing in their love for each other and the Bible.” I encourage you to check out their site!

When a child learns how to read, an entirely new world is opened up to him. A wealth of knowledge is suddenly at his fingertips, and he has the opportunity to embark upon new adventures unlike anything he has ever experienced before. Learning to read unlocks a host of possibilities for your child, so it’s important to know the best ways to nurture a love for books early in his life.

If you have been searching for ways to foster a deeper desire for reading within your child, you’re not alone. To help, we’ve compiled some ideas you can use right away that will not only motivate your child to read, but will also help him learn to love books.

Developing a Lifelong Reader

If your child is like most children, he loves to ask questions. In fact, you might feel like he asks too many questions at times! This is completely normal, and it’s a behavior that’s born out of his natural curiosity about the world around him. Once he begins to read, he will quickly learn that books answer many of his questions, which is one of the best benefits of reading. Before long, books will begin filling in the blanks he has in his mind, which will lead him to want to read even more.

If you want your child to learn to be a lifelong reader, it’s important for you to do two things:

1. Always have a positive attitude toward reading
2. Make sure you’re reading too, and encourage your child to continue reading newer and different things so that he makes progress.

Let’s explore these principles in more detail.

Getting Your Child Hooked on Reading

As a parent, your involvement in your child’s education has a direct effect on his rate of success. If you put the above two ideas into practice, you will easily teach your child to love reading and to desire to grow as a reader.

Having a Positive Attitude
The best example your child has for anything in life is you, the parent. Children learn by example, which is evidenced by everything your child has learned in life thus far. Read books and tell stories together with your child. This time you spend together should be very special, and it should be something that he looks forward to. In addition, you should also be spending time reading on your own. Talk to your child about the books you’re reading, and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the story. Regardless of your reading techniques, if you have a positive attitude, you’ll demonstrate the benefits of reading to children.

Continue Reading and Make Progress
Reading should be a part of your family’s everyday life. You can make that happen by filling your home with interesting books and magazines. Let your child choose which books he wants to read, and praise him for his choices. As he gets older, you can introduce new genres and you can show him different reading media. Reading books on tablets or e-readers has become very popular. Kids also like to indulge in comic books or other types of reading material from time to time, as well.

Proof that these Ideas Really Work

Putting these techniques into practice really works to get children reading and loving what they learn. Not only will your child quickly learn that reading is a lot of fun, but he will grow to appreciate books for the knowledge they offer him. Before long, you will notice that your child doesn’t even need to think about picking up a book. It will have become a part of his everyday routine, just like playing. Once you begin introducing him to different genres and media, he’ll enjoy growing even more because he’ll always have something new to look forward to.

What Else Can You Do?

As you teach your child to love reading, consider giving books as gifts for birthdays and holidays. This makes them seem even more special and treasured. You can also schedule in days to spend at the library with your child. Many bookstores also offer reading sections where your child can sit and read any book he wants to read.

 

About the Author
Yin Mones is a graphic artist, writer and a mother. She is a regular contributor at The Mini Ark – an online collective, publishing Bible storybooks and Christian learning materials. Check out her works at The Mini Ark blog