Try some of these tips to help get your child excited about reading.
No matter how far technology advances in and out of the classroom, reading is still the best way for your child to open up a world of learning. But not all children appreciate reading right away, and it can seem boring or like a chore. Fortunately, there are many ways to encourage your child to read. Try some of these tips to help get your child excited about reading.
Make a Reading Area
Books can be taken anywhere, read at any time of the day with enough light and, as long as they’re not on a tablet, they’ll never run out of charge. However, reading is much more enjoyable when you stop and create a special place for it. At home, you can easily designate a small corner of the house or a part of your child’s room as a reading nook. By making a space that is really comfortable and peaceful, it will help your child be able to spend a longer amount of time sitting still. Also, you will reinforce the idea that reading should be savored and that it’s worth slowing down and taking the time.
Reading Schedule
Once you have the perfect place for reading, now you need to make time for it as well. Look at ways that you can designate some reading time into your child’s routine. If you already have a daily schedule, then it will be much easier, but if not, then you can start by picking a regular time of day, like right before or right after dinner. Depending on how old your child is, you can set aside thirty minutes to an hour of time for them to read. Also, keep in mind that you give your child a book that is appropriate for their skill level. They should be a little challenged but still able to read a book without struggling.
Lead by Example
It gets harder and harder to convince children that reading is fun, especially with the distractions of technology. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with taking a brain break and enjoying TV or video games, but if that is how your family spends the majority of your free time, then it will be an uphill climb to get your child interested in reading. One way to fix this is by participating in reading with your child. You can read a book with them, or if they are older and read their own books, then you can get a book for yourself and sit with them in the reading area. You might not always have time to read together, but you want to avoid making it feel like punishment by having your child go read while you do another activity. Letting your child see that you enjoy reading will encourage them.
The Connections Therapy Center
The Connections Therapy Center serves families of children and adolescents with disabilities and special needs. We are a team of experts in the fields of pediatric speech, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral sciences. As a team, we offer intensive hands-on therapy for children and adolescents, as well as informative and useful resources for families. If you are interested in learning more about what we can do to help your family, visit us online or give us a call at (202) 561-1110 (Washington, D.C. office) or (301) 577-4333 (Lanham office). Want to get more information on how to help your child thrive? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.