Last week, Paige Turner wrote a wonderful article about the benefits of reading; — as far as our children are concerned, it is paramount in development of skills required for a successful life — when read her article published at TheLiteracySite.com I rejoiced! “Yes” I said to myself, well put and I along with booklovers worldwide are in your debt.
I will encourage you to read her article fully. Her article’s first sentence ‘Booklovers are not born’, is telling in and of itself and agree one hundred percent. Booklovers are recruited and taught by teachers, aunts, uncles, cousins and parents, and yes, grandparents who see the value in reading. The benefits extend far above simply enjoying reading a good book for one’s personal enjoyment. Booklovers, or readers, excel in life more fully than their counterpart who rarely read more than a box of Cornflakes, and then only if forced to do so!
This is something so dear to my heart I could go on and on at length, but, I will spare you further accolades for reading on my part for Ms. Turner’s post is quite lengthy in and of itself. You surely do not wish to read this post from noon until midnight. Please continue reading to the end!
- Raise Lifelong Readers With These Handy Tips
- By: Paige Turner (TheLiteracySite.com – Blog)
Booklovers are not born. An interest in reading and a delight for stories found within the pages of a book is something that has to be carefully fostered.
For kids who learn an early appreciation for reading, the benefits can be extraordinary. The British Cohort Study, for example, found that reading for pleasure improves both literacy and math skills. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that reading daily to young children, starting in infancy, can help with language acquisition and literacy skills.
The research proves it… readers have a huge advantage from early on!
Despite all the positive benefits that come from reading to kids, some parents struggle to get their little ones interested in reading.
Here’s five tips to help you teach your budding book worm to love reading from an early age.
Raising-readers1
Read Aloud: Many parents do this when their kids are young, but stop as the little ones get older and can read on their own. Kids will enjoy being read to for far longer than you might expect, and the closeness of a shared activity together will leave positive memories in your child for both you and the experience of reading in general. Children will benefit by hearing the rhythm and cadence of language and learn correct pronunciation as they listen to stories being read aloud.
Cater to your Child’s Interests: It’s hard to keep anyone’s attention on topics that they aren’t interested in, regardless of their age. For kids who are reluctant readers to begin with, books about topics that don’t interest them will only feed their belief that reading as a whole isn’t “for them.” Think about what they are currently obsessed with. Whether it’s cars, ballet, horses, or dinosaurs, there’s books about these and hundreds of other topics waiting to be devoured by your young reader. Use internet searches, as well as help from booksellers and librarians, to find these topic-specific books.
Find Favorite Authors: When your child expresses appreciation for a particular story, it might be worth exploring other titles by that author. It might be the subject or the narrative voice or the characters that hook your kiddo, but the author probably replicates their recipe for success across multiple titles. Paying attention to authors can help kids become fans not only of reading, but also of the authors themselves!
Visit the library: Making library visits part of your routine allows your little bookworm a vast array of titles to capture their imagination. Libraries also often have events that cater to readers of all ages, including summer reading programs that encourage and reward young ones for continuing to read during the break.
Be a Role Model: Kids are way more likely to be interested in reading when they see grown-ups reading. Make reading present in your home and a valuable way to spend time no matter your age.
I pray you enjoyed Ms. Turner’s article. Bless you all.
marilu davis 