Raising Readers

Do you have kids who are reluctant readers? Are you wondering what to do to help nurture your child’s reading skills and love of books? 

Here are some specific steps that can help:

1.      Re-discover what your kid likes – Interview your child and ask them about their  favorite hobbies, video games, movies and books they have enjoyed before.

2.      Set expectation that you and your child will read together every day in a common space for 20 minutes

3.      Create a positive outing to go get some books maybe add in a trip to the ice cream store ahead of time.

4.      Show the list from step 1 to the librarian or bookseller – they will be glad to help!

5.      Give your kid space to go explore those options, they will enjoy the independence.

6.      Head back home and start reading.

7.      Make your reading space inviting – comfortable chairs, good lighting, maybe a fire in the fireplace or a cozy blanket. Sometimes they may prefer a fort made from sheets draped over chairs.

8.      Talk about what each of you are reading – this can be real brief but is such an important step, helping them develop the skills of synthesizing and summarizing.

9.      Allow some boring moments in your home life – limit the TV, video games and iPad – to give those books a fighting chance!

10.  Be patient and consistent, like all good habits, it may take a while to form.

11.  Read aloud – kids rarely totally outgrow the love of hearing a good book read aloud at bedtime (or anytime for that matter.)  A great strategy is to alternate pages - you read one page and your child reads the next one.

12.  Give books as gifts.  When you elevate a book to the status of a treasured gift, the perceived value increases.