How do you make your child read more?
By lalitha55
@lalitha55 (193)
India
February 12, 2007 11:07pm CST
Reading is a habit which is very good to update yourself with general knowledge , increase your vocabulary and generally increase your conversation skills. But the recent trend among children seems to be to view the TV or to play games on the computer. Reading takes a backseat. How does one cultivate the habit of reading in one's child?
2 people like this
4 responses
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 Feb 07
First off, some kids are went to be readers and some are not. I grew up in a house where everyone read somethign every day and I am a fairly avid reader. My husband started reading at age 3 and hasn't stopped. My son reads and will pick up books on his own, but he doesn't have the reading bug. I think reading to your children, reading books for school, having your child see you read (this is the most important one in my opinion), and motivating them to read - taking part in summer reading programs, school programs, etc - gets them interested in becoming a reader and gets them hooked for life.
3 people like this
@mjgarcia (725)
• United States
13 Feb 07
My oldest child enjoys reading. But he'd still rather play the video games. My younger two have a daily assignment to read 30 minutes. We have a reading log that has to be filled out and turned in. I think reading to children, even as they get older helps cultivate that habit of reading. The elementary school has a deal with six flags here, that the kids can earn a free ticket to the amusement park if they read 6 hours. The parents must document and sign the reading log. It cannot be any reading that the do for classroom work. It must be over and beyond. My kids have been motivated to read more lately because of that.
3 people like this
@sunnypub (2127)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I think reading is an important part of life and all parents should help their children become readers. the key is to start early. there are many things you can do to help foster a love of reading in your child.
It is great to let your child see you read, and give them books starting at a young age, visit the library often, keep plenty of books in you house, read to your child every day, play reading games, and basically make it a fun and entertaining activity.
I wrote an article about raising a reader and you can read it at the following link if you would like.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/59993/raising_a_reader.html
@lalitha55 (193)
• India
13 Feb 07
I read that article and liked it very much. It is very informative.
1 person likes this
@sunnypub (2127)
• United States
13 Feb 07
Thank you. I am by no means an expert but I have done a very good job at geting my daughter to read. I have even slowly converted my husband into a reader. He was never really a reader, you know the basics, car magazines and that was about it.
SO I decided that i wanted him to read more because it would help our daughter become a reader also. I began by getting a subscription to Maxim magazine and leaving it in the bathroom. He got veryused to having that and reading it. When the subscription was up I did not renew.
Instead I replaced the magazines with joke books and bathroom reader books, you know the ones filled with interesting information. Anyways, I kept the bathroom stocked with those for a while, then I bought some autobiaograpies of his favorite comedians.
After that I started keeping small easy to read books in the bathroom. And eventually regular adult novels. It was all just taking it one step at a time.
I am proud to say that my husband has now read about 10 novels. He is currently on the third book in the Earth's Children Series. This whole process did take some years, but it was worth it.
Now he actually asks me to keep some good novels in the bathroom. SO it can be done. Anyone can be helped to become a reader if you take the time to work with them. It is never too early or too late to start.
@nfhs79 (861)
• Malaysia
13 Feb 07
Give them book up to them to read or to only have a look. I give my baby a book. She look at it and then tore. But, that is the way of learning. I will give her books and magazine to explore herself. I also give her to look flashcards. From ABC to 123 and fruits and so on. I want my baby to read more when she grew up. I like reading either on the net or books I found. But, I really miss my good time for reading. I have spend a lot on my family now. I just find myself a free time to spare for reading.
