Get Your Kids Excited About Reading! #Literacy #Education

    One of the most frequent questions that I get asked as an educator by parents is how they can get their kids to read more.  It seems that in this fast-paced, technologically advanced world that we currently live in, taking the time out to read a book has become something of an anomaly.  Unfortunately, it is something that I witness regularly with my own students as it is a daily struggle to get them to read.

    Many parents blame themselves for this but, the reality is that the Internet and the easy access that we now have to all kinds of information has decreased our attention span for reading to a certain extent.  When I let my students go on the computers in my classroom they immediately become engaged but I rarely see the same enthusiasm when I put books in front of them.  As a parent, I also worry about whether my children are spending enough time reading.

    There are many reasons why reading is such an important part of a child’s academic and social development.  Reading regularly helps to improve kids’ reading stamina as well as their oral and written vocabulary.  Additionally, there is just something magical about watching a child become immersed in a book and its characters.  In some cases, they become so engrossed in the book that they are saddened by its ending.  That’s the type of engagement that I’m looking for when I introduce a child to a text.

    Here are some of the ways you can get your kids excited about reading:

  • Schedule regular visits to your local bookstore with your children.  Most bookstores have reading areas for children and you can spend some time there allowing your children to look through different books.  This will help them decide which genres they are more interested in reading.
  • Attend events at your local library.  Libraries often have book reads which are done by authors or arts and crafts activities for kids to engage in.  Being able to meet authors and make the connection between literature and art helps children to make personal connections to books.
  • Set aside time to read together with your children regularly.  If you want your children to develop a love of reading, you have to model those reading behaviors for them.  When they see that you are reading too and that you value this time for the family to read, they will in turn value reading as well.

    By getting your kids excited about reading, you are opening a wealth of doors for them in all aspects of life.  After all, reading and writing is everywhere and these skills are integral parts of almost every aspect of our personal and professional lives.  Aside from that, though, there is nothing better than seeing the look in a child’s eyes when he or she is captivated by a book!

Let’s Discuss:  What are some of the things you do to get your children excited about reading?

© 2014, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.

Comments

  1. Robin Rue says

    Thankfully both of my boys really do seem to enjoy reading, but they LOVE going to the library to take out new books, so I make sure we get there at least once a month.

  2. Amanda @ Erickson and Co. says

    Its sad that kids would rather play on the computer than read. I loved reading when I was a kid, but we didn’t really get to use the computer. My son is two and loves me to read to him. Hopefully I can keep up his enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing!

  3. mail4rosey says

    Reading was always one of my most favorite things to do as a kid. The library was better than the beach to me back in those days. 🙂

  4. Amanda Love says

    Great post! I encourage reading a lot with my kids and I taught them all to read before attending school so that they got a headstart. My toddler loves to read and brings me books so we can read together.

  5. Amberlee Cave says

    Thank you for the tips. My girls are getting to the point where they are going to start reading soon and I hope I can keep them interested in it. I will have to try some of these out 🙂

  6. Anne Newsome says

    These are great ideas! Both of my children love to read … well, my 3 year old loves to be read to but she recently said she wanted to learn to read!! Guess what our summer plans include? 🙂

  7. Rebecca Bryant says

    My son isn’t the most excited reaer but he will read if he has to. I tried to instill a love of books in him but it was a no go he is way more into music then books.

  8. Lean Lacaba says

    My mom didn’t have to do so much to get me addicted to books. I even sneaked some books to read for myself! I believe that kids these days need the encouragement though.

  9. Jennifer Williams says

    I am lucky because both of my boys like to read. For my teenager it has to be books he picks and I am okay with that. Whatever it takes to keep his interest.

  10. I can’t see the pictures, 🙁 My kids love to read! We always get them to the library to pick new books out each week.

  11. Lawna Young says

    My kids really enjoy reading. My youngest son asks me to read to him every night before bed.

  12. this is definitely a good way for kids to be more engage and interested in reading.

  13. I think taking your child to the library regularly is one of the best things you can do. Most libraries have such great programs now days that really keep children interested in reading and finding out about new and interesting things.

    I grew up in a rural area and one of our highlights was the bookmobile coming to our small little town.

  14. Onica {MommyFactor} says

    I’m a big fan of having kids read offline. While my son does read ebooks and stories, most of his reading started with library books and visits to the book store. We love the feel and smell of real books

  15. Fantastic suggestions! Seriously, the kids section of Barnes and Noble is my favorite store. even with no kids! Our local B and N has a free storytime every Saturday

  16. Amber Nelson says

    All my kids love to read and I am thankful for that.

  17. I love reading and try to teack my daughter to love books too. We are taking part in a reading challenge and go to library weekly.

  18. TouristMeetsTraveler says

    I got my little girl interested by reading a book to her every single night from 3 months up. She is at the point now where she asks for a book, love it!

  19. My daughter is in process of learning her letters and I can only hope she turned into a bookworm. I was never into books in my childhood and that has changed so much in the last year. I hope she finds the love of books a lot earlier than I did.

  20. My son is still learning how to read. He can read with supervision yet. I look forward to the day that he can read by his own and to us during reading time in our family 😀

  21. Meagan Bailiff says

    taking my daughter to the library really gets her excited about books and reading. she loves going there.

  22. Although not a parent have had friends with their young children living with me periodically. I always made it a priority to head to Barnes and Noble with them and would buy them books! Then of course it helped that both I and their mother were and still are avid readers. Now so is she and is currently getting her own children into reading.

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