How to Raise a Reader
Many parents hope to instill good habits in their children, and a great habit to encourage is reading. Reading has been proven to increase cognitive development in children, and many pregnant women even read to their babies in-utero, because the sound of the mother’s voice aids in development. Allow me to make a disclaimer: I am NOT a parent. This article is a compilation of information gained from my own experiences during my childhood and research from credible health and parenting sources. I have not decided if I want children, but I do know, should I ever become a parent, that I will probably raise the most bookish child ever. If you also wish to raise a reader, here are five ways to build that habit in your child:
1) Lead by example
I know, for a fact, that the main reason I read so much is because my mother is also a reader. Growing up, I watched her read novels and, naturally, I wanted to be just like her. Leading by example has the biggest impact on a child. If an adult in their life is consistently doing something, good or bad, children are very likely to pick up the habit. This is true for many aspects of family life. If you wish to raise a reader, pick up a book.
2) Read to your child
Surprisingly, my parents did not really do bedtime stories. My dad just tickled my brother and I into exhaustion, and my mom sang lullabies. However, reading to your child has been proven to lead to stronger reading habits. This is also related to the “lead by example” method. If your child sees you reading and is familiarized with it, they are more likely to become readers themselves. Reading to your child also makes it more fun, for you and them. If you’re reading them a story, be animated, use voices and make sound effects. They are more likely to read in the future if they view it as a fun experience.
3) Replace TV time with book time
Too much television is not good for anyone, especially small children in the early stages of cognitive development. Though entertaining, television is not as mentally engaging and does not encourage intellectual growth. Many parents set aside specific times for their children to do homework or practice an instrument. Do this with reading. Let’s say your child is six years old. Have them sit down for half an hour and read. If they want to keep reading, let them, but don’t force them beyond their individual attention limits. A sure fire way to turn reading into more torture than fun is to be overzealous, especially if your child has a learning disability. My brother has reading comprehension issues, and he hasn’t touch a book in years, because he was require to read so much in school. He struggled to get through reading assignments, and once he graduated, he never touched another book. Work with your child’s individual abilities and encourage them to make their own decisions regarding what and how they read.
4) Read everything
When your child is learning to read, encourage them to read everything. Have them read street signs, instructions on boxes, anything with words. You could even leave them notes. This strengthens their reading skills and makes them a more confident reader.
5) Take them to the library
This is more to do with the law of exposure. If a child is often exposed to a certain environment, they often go back to them when they are older. I was taken to the library a lot as a child, and as an adult, libraries are some of my favorite places to be. Many libraries have children’s programs and story time. If you want to raise a reader, it is a good idea to get your child involved in these programs and familiarize them with this type of setting.
I hope to raise a reader if only to have someone else to geek out over books with. I have a dream to read the entire Harry Potter series to my child. I have so many fond memories thanks to books, and I want to share the joy of reading with my future child. If you have children, are they readers? Did you implement any of these tactics when raising them? How else did you encourage them to read?
