How to get kids to like reading? The easy answer is to embrace the journey and habit of reading and stick to it.
Reading is one of the most important skills we can teach children. Developing a love of books from a young age provides benefits that last a lifetime. A healthy reading habit can almost assure academic success. Most importantly, good reading habit builds your child’s personality.
5 Benefits of Building a Reading Habit for Kids
Here are some of the key reasons why we should be encouraging kids to love books. We’ve also provided tips on how you can help your child develop a reading habit. So, keep reading.
Help Learn a New Language
Reading helps children develop strong language skills. Books introduce kids to new words and concepts, building their vocabulary.
As they hear the patterns and structures of language in stories, their own speaking and writing abilities are subconsciously improved. Studies show children who read for pleasure have better vocabularies and higher literacy levels than infrequent readers.
Making reading an enjoyable habit from an early age is one of the best ways to help children master language.
Help Unlock their Imagination
Imagination and the capacity to visualize what you read is a skill that your child must learn. Imagination is the important first step toward becoming creative. Reading can help your child unlock this skill.
Studies have found fiction readers tend to have better-developed imaginations than those who don’t read. Books also expose children to new ideas, cultures, and ways of thinking, expanding their understanding of the world around them.
This inspires innovative thinking and creative problem-solving. If you want your child to build a wealth of knowledge, you might as well start thinking “How to get kids to like reading?”
Build Concentration & Discipline
Reading is a practice that requires sustained concentration and focus. When children start to read regularly, their skills are strengthened, and they focus for a long time. When your child learns to focus for long hours, they are ready for a better academic and professional life.
Reading requires focus and sustained concentration. As children practice reading daily, they strengthen their ability to focus for longer periods.
This improves concentration skills and mental discipline, which are essential for success in school and life.
Studies show reading fiction and playing games that require focused attention have similar benefits for a child’s developing brain. Making reading fun for kids ensures they build this concentration muscle naturally.
Help them Learn Empathy & Emotional Intelligence.
As kids explore stories through different characters’ perspectives, they learn to understand and relate to the feelings and experiences of others. This builds empathy and emotional intelligence.
Studies have found exposure to fiction improves a child’s ability to understand other people’s mental states. Kids who read frequently tend to be more socially adept and get along better with peers.
If you are fostering a child with Fosterplus, reading provides a safe space for them to explore complex emotional issues. This empathy benefit lasts into adulthood.
Academic Success
Reading ability is directly linked to overall academic success. Children who read for pleasure generally do better across all subjects compared to non-readers.
As well as building literacy, reading improves vocabulary, general knowledge, and emotional intelligence – all of which help kids engage with and understand their schoolwork.
Making independent reading a daily habit from a young age sets children up for academic achievement through their school years.
Entertainment & Bonding
Most importantly, we should teach children to love reading simply because books are fun! Reading opens up an endless world of entertainment, knowledge, and adventure that kids can explore.
Sharing the joy of books also provides wonderful bonding time with children. Reading aloud, going to the library, and discussing books together create lasting family memories.
Nurturing a genuine love of reading is a gift that will bring kids joy their whole lives.
Instilling a passion for books from an early age provides lifelong benefits for children. Reading improves language abilities, sparks creativity, builds concentration, teaches empathy, and boosts academic achievement.
Most of all, it is simply a wonderful source of entertainment and bonding for the entire family.
How to Get Kids to Like Reading: Tips that Work
We’ve clarified the reasons why you must bring books to the life of your child. But it’s easier said than done. If you want to help your kids get to read, here are tips that will definitely work –
1. Model Good Reading Habits
Kids are reluctant to force. If you tell them to read, they are likely to disobey. The easiest way to get your child to read is through imitation.
Have a small bookshelf at home that your child can access. Keep the shelf filled with children’s books. First, take a book for yourself and read it. Watch your child follow you and do the same.
2. Read Together Before Bedtime
Reading to your child is the best way to bring books into their life. Bedtime stories can make your child think about books in a different (positive) way.
If you read stories out loud, it would compel them to engage, listen, and share their thoughts on the book as well. A good idea would be to ask them questions after you read out a story.
Ask them what they think would happen later on in the story. Once they are capable of reading, maybe hand the book over to them and ask them to read.
3. Library Cards
You can get free access to library cards for your child. If there’s a community library with access given to children, it’s a good way to introduce your child to the world of books.
Most libraries are also introducing games and rewards related to reading. This is a tactic to keep them occupied when school is out. Also, it’s a good way to introduce them to the world of books.
4. Read what They Love to Read
Your child will feel more encouraged to read when you keep track of their reading habits. It’s best to read the same book or story with them together.
You can come back from work and ask them if they have read the next chapter without you or not. This type of activity helps create a sense of urgency with your child. If you are wondering how to get kids to like reading, this is the answer.
5. All Reading is Good Reading
Reading is a way to relax, learn, and build a healthy habit that keeps one focused. Many parents make the mistake of being too choosy about what their child reads.
If you want them to like reading, then it’s best to focus on building the habit of reading itself. Let your child read books of different genres. It could be kids’ magazines, biographies, comic books, and more.
Remember!
Reading is an independent habit. But, your child will need all the help he/she can get before they are ready to pick a book and read.
It’s best to help your child strengthen their reading muscles by accompanying them. Once they start to read independently, give them constructive criticism about the right reading habits. This will help them build better listening skills and make reading more interesting.
Like what you read? Let us know your thoughts on this blog post. Do you think the above practices would make reading more interesting for your child? Take it to the comment box and share your views.
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