Encouraging Reading
Encouraging your child to read a wide
variety of books is probably the best education you can give them - but
sometimes it seems an uphill struggle! We have put together a collection
of tips and tricks to encourage reading which may give you some ideas,
as well as pulling together a
collection of free printable bookmarks which can make the process more fun.
Library Day:
If you live near to a good library, you could designate one day of the
week "Library Day". In any event, try to visit regularly and spend time
browsing through the books with your kids. Getting your kids their own
library cards can be a huge incentive - and many libraries run special
programs to encourage kids to take out books.
Read With Your Child:
Younger children like nothing better than to snuggle up with their
parents to share reading time. You could try reading a page each - it
helps to keep the pace up and make the story more interesting for your
child, especially if they are struggling a little. You can also practice
putting lots of expression into your reading: if your child learns to do
this too, it will help their understanding (and of course prove useful
when reading out loud at school!).
Read To Your Child:
Even adults like to be read to sometimes - so try not to grow out of the
habit of reading to your kids! Obviously it helps when the kids are
similar ages and have similar interests, but with a bit of perseverance
you should be able to find something which you can read to all ages and
enjoy! If not, split the reading up into age-groups, or perhaps
ask an older sibling to read to a younger one occasionally.
Listen To Audio Books Too:
These days it is easy to get hold of audio books for some of the best
children's stories - either through your library or bookshops online and
offline. You can also download audio books through iTunes or
www.Audible.com for instant
gratification, to be listened to either through an iPod or burned onto a
CD, or find some good free versions of the classics at
www.Gutenberg.net. A good audio book can be enjoyed by all the family, whatever their
ages, and can make a long car journey hugely enjoyable. Why not set up a
club with friends so that you can swap and share to keep costs down?
Provide A Good Selection:
Just because a story was your favourite as a child, it is not necessarily
going to be your child's favourite too. Times have moved on and there is
a huge selection of children's literature out there and easily available
now. Let your kids dip into all kinds of stories and non-fiction to find
what interests them. If you want them to love reading, you have to give
them choice in what they read.
Finishing Books:
As adults we are not prepared to finish every book we begin - some are
just plain dreary and we don't have enough interest in them to see it
through to the end. Your child is the same! My kids were expected to
finish every reading book they took out at school before they were given
the next, and frankly sometimes even I felt like jumping off the top of
a tall building rather than read to the end! I'm not saying you should
let them off finishing every single book, but if they are really not
enjoying their current book, consider whether the writing / story is
really good enough to insist.
Fiction v. Non-fiction:
Your child may not be a fiction lover, but don't despair. Reading any
well-written book is an achievement - and you can get a lot of good
information and practice off the back of a cereal packet in the
mornings! There are some wonderful children's encyclopaedias available
now, and various magazines for kids available by subscription which they
will be really excited to receive each month in the post. The library
will have shelves stocked with non-fiction for them to sample, and they
may well end up being a fount of useful knowledge and developing some
life-long interests, too.
Reading Time:
Older kids can enjoy having a set "Reading Time" when everybody in the
family - no exceptions - finds a comfortable place on a favorite chair
or sofa and reads. Put some background music on if you like, refuse to
answer the phone and drop all chores for at least half an hour!
Keep A Record:
Sometimes keeping a record can make reading more fun - for all ages. You
could buy each child a special notebook in which to record all the books
they have read, and any thoughts they have on them. Encourage them to
set up a rating system and share it with their friends! Young kids enjoy
getting a sticker on a chart when they have finished a book.
Another idea (which we used) is to create a
"caterpillar" by cutting out colourful circles of paper.
Decorate one to look like a cheerful caterpillar's face and then add
circles for his body, one by one, each time your child finishes a book,
writing the name of the book on the circle if you wish. You could have
different coloured circles for each member of the family (and if your kids can
cope with the competitive aspect of this!)
One mother I know kept a notebook
record of every book her son ever read, including the date started and
finished, and a mark for "enjoyment factor". After a while she started
to stick in a small image for each book, taken off the internet, and her
son (now a teenager) loves looking through his record and remembering
his favorite stories.
Rewards:
Sticker charts and certificates are a great way to remind children to do some
reading every day, or record completed books. We've got some lovely reading
certificates and blank sticker charts here:
printable certificates and
rewards. How about a trip to a favourite bookshop to reward a
completed sticker chart, with a stop off for ice-cream after?
Provide Bookmarks:
Reading can be made much more fun for kids by simple providing an
appropriate bookmark! When they are young, try to find something on the
same theme as the book (perhaps you could find some images on the
internet to print off and laminate). As they get older bookmarks can be
more creative. Get the kids to help you make some one rainy day with
scraps of card and ribbon, use some of their artwork, cut up old
greeting cards and postcards, make collages from magazines, or use
photographs of family and friends.
Of course, we've got a huge collection of
printable bookmarks at Activity Village!
Older kids can leave a message on
the back of a bookmark and leave it in a favorite book for a younger
sibling to find when they read the book later. Perhaps the older child
could write a little about the book and why they enjoyed it, and put the
date they finished it too. What a lovely surprise to find a few years
later!
Hunt For Second-hand Books:
Specialised children's bookshops are becoming harder to find, although there are
still some gems out there that should be supported as much as possible. Many
offer story sessions, author signings and competitions, and of course they are a
great way to get recommendations and look through the latest books. Chain book
stores are getting much better at providing fun, dedicated children's areas and
again have the latest offerings, glossy posters and promotional materials. But
of course buying new is expensive and it certainly isn't your only option - and
if you get the kids involved you could have a fun family outing too.
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Charity stores and thrift stores often have books in
excellent condition available for very inexpensive prices and are a great
place for stocking up. You may even have a specialist charity book store
near you. And it's always fun having a rummage...
-
Car boot sales and garage sales are a fabulous source
and sadly sellers find that children's books almost have to be given away so
prices can be ridiculously cheap. Don't be afraid to bargain, especially if
you buy in bulk!
-
Amazon now has a huge amount of second hand books for
sale, sometimes at giveaway prices. Children often write their own reviews
of books, too, so you can get a good feel for what you are buying and
whether it is going to appeal.
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Swap with friends - just make sure you keep track! You
could even arrange a swap meet, where each child donates books and collects
tickets to "buy" a number in return.
In these "throw away" days some children find it hard to
own a book with a bit of wear and tear and signs of prior ownership. When we buy
second-hand we always wipe down the covers with some kitchen cleaner which often
freshens the books up considerably. If the covers have been really tatty we've
covered up with scrapbook and wrapping paper or repaired with sticky-back
plastic! I also found that by giving each child their own coins when we went
hunting, they were often excited to bring home books which they might have
turned their noses up at if I had produced them! 50p each would often result in
3 or 4 books coming home and earning a treasured position on the kids'
bookshelf.
By Lindsay Small
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