How to Encourage Reading Habits in Kids
Reading is important, really important. But some kids don’t seem all that interested in reading. In fact, some children avoid it at all costs exclaiming, “I hate reading!” If your child seems less than interested or downright hostile towards reading, you might be wondering How to Encourage Reading Habits in Kids. After all, reading is a fundamental skill all children need to learn in order to be successful in life.
How to Encourage Reading Habits in Kids
So how can you get your child interested in reading? For starters, remember not to make reading a chore. Your kids are more likely to enjoy reading if it’s not a requirement.
Keep reading for some fun ideas for encouraging your kids to read at home.
Why does my child hate reading?
It’s important to remember that not every child loves reading.
Here are the most common reasons your child might “hate” reading:
- Reading is a chore similar to cleaning up his toys.
- It’s difficult for her.
- He thinks reading is really boring.
- She just hasn’t found the right book yet.
Once you discover the reason your child doesn’t love reading, you can begin to solve the problem and make reading fun. When reading is fun for your child, she will be more likely to fall in love with books, enjoy reading activities, and meet with academic success too.
Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Read
Reading aloud to your children at home is one of the easiest and most effective ways you can encourage your kids to read. Reading stories aloud to kids sparks their imagination. It teaches them reading is a life long habit. Reading aloud opens their eyes to the joys of reading. When children see how fun reading can be, they are often motivated to read or learn to read.
However, every child learns differently. Some kids don’t naturally love reading. If that applies to your child, don’t worry! There are things you can do to help your kids fall in love with reading.
10 ways you can motivate your child to read
- Encourage your children to read everything from menus to street signs.
- Model reading for your child. Let them see you reading and join you as you read.
- Give your child easy access to books, that way there are plenty of books to entice them.
- Visit your local library and let your child choose his own books to explore.
- Try a lot of different genres. Your child might prefer non-fiction to picture books.
- Read a bedtime story together each night. It’s a routine you’ll both love!
- Re-read favorite books. Children can benefit from reading the same book twice too.
- Give books as gifts. Everyone loves unwrapping a surprise.
- Try audiobooks. Listening to books on tape can help children who struggle with reading.
- Start a kid’s book club. Your child will have fun getting together with friends sharing favorite books and activities that go along with them.
Another excellent way you can encourage good reading habits in kids is to create a media-free zone where children can read free of technology like tablets and video games. Making an area for your child to read in can be a fun adventure for you both!
A comfy child-sized chair, string lights, and a variety of interesting books will encourage your little ones to spend lots of time in their own cozy reading nook.
Books for Kids
How to Create a Reading Space for Your Child
A reading space for your child doesn’t need to be large or contain a library filled with picture books. A small corner, a comfy chair in their bedroom, or any little nook or corner could be the perfect spot for your child to connect with books and begin to love reading.
Follow these 4 easy steps to create the perfect reading nook for kids
- Choose the right spot. You can set up the perfect reading space right in your child’s bedroom or playroom.
- Pick the perfect place to sit. A comfy place to get lost in books is essential! Bean bag chairs, a child’s rocking chair, or even a large soft pillow can provide the right spot for exploring the magic of reading.
- Add unique elements your child will enjoy. String lights or a fun reading lamp can provide the perfect lighting. A few favorite stuffed animals to snuggle with and read to might be just the thing. Choose accessories that match your child’s interests.
- Choose the right books. Include fairy tales, and stories about your little one’s favorite animals or places. Pick stories with beautiful pictures, rhyming verses, or funny jokes. Consider non-fiction stories about inspiring heroes and amazing creatures. Choosing books carefully will keep your child interested without being overwhelming.
Your children will love having a reading corner of their very own.
Activities that Promote Reading
Remember, reading should be fun, not frustrating. Encouraging your child to participate in a reading challenge is one way you can promote reading at home. Challenging yourself is a great way to establish a habit. Why not create a reading challenge for your kids? A Summer reading challenge will be fun for the whole family!
Check out these fun reading challenge ideas:
- The Deep Dive Challenge: Did you know that if you read more than 3 books on a specific topic, you’ll know more about it than 90% of people? Choose a topic your child is fascinated by like dinosaurs or horses and encourage them to read books about those topics. It’s a great way to teach your kids that knowledge is power.
- The Mix-It-Up Challenge: In this kind of reading challenge, you explore lots of different kinds of books. Poetry, fairy tales, non-fiction, joke books, etc. are all fair game. It’s a great way to find “the right book” to love.
- Genre Specific Reading Challenge: A genre-specific challenge is a great way to focus on one type of book and decide just how you feel about it. It’s also a fun way to enjoy your favorite genre. If your child loves joke books, try a genre-specific challenge where you only read joke books or stories with funny endings.
If your child doesn’t love reading, a challenge like this can be challenging. But, with encouragement and the right incentives, it could be the perfect activity to spark interest and turn your kids into strong readers for life. I like to offer a reward for completing book challenges.
How to Develop a Love for Reading
You can agree upon an amount of time to be met, a number of books, or some other form of measuring success. Then, offer your child a reward for their success.
When your child doesn’t enjoy reading, it can be hard to know the best ways to encourage them. Remembering to keep reading fun is the key to teaching your kids to love books.
I hope these fun activities and ideas for creating a special space for reading will help you foster a lifelong love of books with your little ones.
Don’t forget to share your reading challenges and successes in the comments. I love reading about your learning journey.
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