Five tips for getting kids interested in reading
My son today is an avid and voracious reader, but back when he was first learning how, it was a daily struggle. I remember sitting with him every night for a full summer, encouraging him to try one more word or line while he kept coming up with excuses to stop. But I pushed through because I knew that once he got there, he would never turn back.
The fact is, learning how to read is hard and, as parents, it can be very frustrating to fight with your kids over something so important to their lives, as well as something you know they’ll love and thank you for later.
So how do we support a love for reading and help kids view it less as a chore and more of enjoyable activity? Here are some ideas:
1. Start Early. Introducing children to books from a young age is key. Reading to babies and toddlers can expose them to different sounds, words, and concepts, helping them develop language and communication skills. Parents can create a cozy reading nook in the home and make reading a part of the daily routine.
2. Cater book choices to their interests. If your kid loves cats, they just might be more receptive to cat books than others. (However be warned, if your kid loves Komodo dragons, choose books carefully, lest you find yourself frantically re-writing a book mid-read so that they DON’T eat their young. Trust me on this.) As kids get older, you can give them a say in the books they read. Books that are chosen are, I believe, more popular than ones that are assigned. If they need a nudge, you can suggest different genres and authors to help broaden their experience.
3. Encourage reading in different formats. It might sound weird for a book author to say this…but reading doesn’t have to be limited to books. Graphic novels, comic books, magazines, and any of a thousand other formats can be just as effective in getting kids interested in reading. (I personally credit my love of words as much to Calvin and Hobbes as I do to school).
4. Visit the library or bookstore – Any time one of my kids expressed hesitance to read, I would immediately take them to the local library or bookstore, where they’d inevitably get overwhelmed with possibilities and return home with their arms full. There are more books in the world than any of us could ever read in our lifetimes, so I am positive that if you go where the books (and magazines and graphic novels, etc.) are, kids will find something they can’t wait to sink their teeth into.
5. Celebrate Reading Achievements. Acknowledging and celebrating children's reading achievements can help motivate them to read more. You can set reading goals and reward children for reaching them. Rewards can include a trip to the library or bookstore, a special treat, or (yes, even) extra screen time.
Reading is a lifelong skill, and the earlier you can get kids hooked, the better. No matter how you get there, I am positive that they’ll thank you for it.
