Are you trying to help develop your child’s mind and get them prepared for school?
One of the best ways to instill the importance of education is
to teach them to enjoy reading. Reading
is not only a way to increase knowledge, it’s also a great form of
entertainment. And don’t kids and adults
both love doing fun things?
Start early by reading to them with age-appropriate
books. They’re never too young to
start. You can even read to babies. Many infant books also have noise and
different textures added to further stimulate your child.
Choose good books that are age-appropriate so they’ll enjoy
them. Try to choose books about topics
they’ve shown interest in or that they can relate to. Once they begin to enjoy reading, then open them up to new ideas, genres and
topics.
When your child is old enough,
enroll them in a library program. They
often have coordinating games, crafts and speakers that go along with the stories.
Set up a special reading area in the house. It could be under a blanket fort or a spot
with a comfy chair and lamp. Encourage
them to decorate with pictures of their favorite book characters.
Set aside family time for reading. You can all read the same book or enjoy your
individual materials. It may be best to
make it a routine, like after dinner or bath
time. It is also important for them to
see you reading and hear you talk about the book you’re
reading.
Reading doesn’t have to be just books or the iPad. Try sharing newspaper articles, magazines and
blogs. Tons of games also require
reading like board games, crossword puzzles, coloring books, word searches and
more.
Never make reading a punishment. Nothing will make them dread it more than
being forced to read!
Make colorful bookmarks with your child and track their
progress with reading charts to help celebrate each chapter read. You may also want to reward them with
something positive, perhaps with a new book
they have been wanting or watching a movie made from a book they’ve previously
read.
