Have you read a book lately? If yes, then that’s pretty good. If no, then do something about it. If you really want your kid to be a voracious reader, then you have to be one as well.
According to Dr. Suzanne Gelb, a clinical psychologist and a professional life coach, your kid has to see you read as well.
It’s tough to inspire your child to read more if you don’t read much, yourself. You are the single most influential figure in your child’s life, so be sure to model the kind of behavior that you wish to see.
The best way to inspire your kid to read is by sheer exposure to books. If you are a reader yourself, it’s pretty natural to have books all over the place. Reading becomes a natural instinct for your kid if he or she sees you do it all the time. That’s just how easy it is if you are a reader yourself.
Now if you’re not a reader, don’t stress yourself over it. There are 10 simple ways to raise a kid who loves to read.
Here are ten simple ways you can raise a kid who loves to read.
10. Speak up if something doesn’t feel right. Parents are often the first ones to recognize a problem. If you have concerns about your child’s development, speak with your child’s teacher and your pediatrician. 9. Know your stuff. Parents don’t need to be reading specialists, but it is important to understand the basics about learning to read. 8. Talk, talk, talk. A child’s vocabulary grows through rich conversations with others. 7. Give your reader something to think and talk about. There are many different types of books available … seek out new subjects that give you and your reader something to think and talk about. 6. Find the reading and writing in everyday things. Take the time to show your child ways that adults use reading and writing every day. 5. Visit the library early and often. Make visiting the library part of your family’s routine. 4. Send positive messages about the joys of literacy. Your own interest and excitement about books will be contagious! 3. Reread favorites. Most children love to hear their favorite stories over and over again. 2. Share books every day. Read with your child every day. 1. Read from day one. Start a reading routine in those very first days with a newborn.
Getting your kid to love reading is really not that hard. Even if you hadn’t been a reader in the past, you can still do something about it now. You can start by grabbing that first book and sharing it with your kid right now. That’s the best thing about reading; you can start anytime. No one is too old or too young to grab a book.
You can learn more about raising readers from this informative article on ReadingRockets.org. After reading the article, you will realize that it’s not that hard to raise a reader and become a reader yourself as well.
