We all know that reading is an essential part of children’s literacy development, but it isn’t always easy to keep them engaged. These days, kids are inundated with distracting, exciting technology that may be much more intriguing than a simple book. From infancy, newborns that cannot even see in color are put on brightly colored mats with flashing lights and music. Mainstream toys for toddlers are more often than not battery-operated and practically play by themselves, without the help of the kids they are designed for.
Getting back to basics and encouraging children to choose story time can be challenging. It is, however, not impossible to create a love for reading starting right at birth. Reading can be a safe place for children to feel confident, relaxed, and connected to their adult reading buddy.
In our homes we designate clear places to eat, bathe, sleep, even to watch TV. Why, then, would we not have a special place in which to read? Children, like their adult parents, are creatures of habit, so designating a special space to read aids in making reading a part of their daily routine.
I suggest creating a reading nook that is free from noisy distractions from the television, kitchen, or computer space. A corner of the living room or your child’s bedroom is a perfect spot to set up a cozy bench, chair, or stack of pillows where your child can feel relaxed and safe and ready to engage with some books. Keeping your child’s bookcase free of clutter and unrelated toys is also a good way to keep the focus on reading when it is time to choose a book.
Set a Special Time
Again, creating a routine is essential for all of us. If we leave something out of our daily schedule, we usually miss it. And so it is with children; if your child is accustomed to reading every day before nap time, then he or she will begin to look forward to this special time instead of find ways to avoid it. If there are days when you cannot make the reading time, let it go, but do aim to read with your child at the same time every day when possible.
Reading a book to completion is an exercise in staying focused on a single task. Too often, children will read two pages of five different books; this is not engaging in reading. In the same vein, if you are reading a chapter book with an older child, be sure to finish reading the book with your child instead of letting her finish it on her own. Part of the attachment to reading a particular book comes from the bond of reading with a parent or close adult reading buddy. The love your child has for you translates to the love for reading the book.
Don’t Just Read
Reading aloud with your child is just the first step in strengthening her roots for literacy development. There are many ways your child can form a deeper connection to stories and books through questioning, role-playing, artwork, and more. My next article is full of fun strategies for you to not “just read” with your child!
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