10 Ways to Get Children to Love Reading

A guide for making reading a favorite, fun activity for your kid

We’ve all heard about the benefits of reading to our children. Not only do kids who read prove to be brighter, but it also helps develop better communication skills, attentiveness, speech, and academic skills. Last but certainly not least, reading can be a lot of fun! That’s right. You don’t have to reread the last sentence. I did write FUN. As a parent you have absolute power to make reading a fun activity for your child.

Before you move on to my ten ideas for helping your children grow to love reading, there are two main things you should know first - the earlier you start on this adventure the better, and there is no such thing as too early. Being a good reader is a learned skill that requires practice, practice, and then more practice.

I will never forget when I first interviewed my son’s pediatrician-to-be. I was 6 or 7 months pregnant and she asked if I was reading to him. I thought she was joking. She wasn’t. She asked me to start reading to him as soon as I got home that evening. “It doesn’t have to be a kid’s book,” she told me, “It could be anything that you are currently reading.” So I read aloud to him Sleeping Through the Night and The Happiest Baby on the Block. I continued this habit through the rest of my pregnancy and then after he was born. At four months he was sleeping 8 full hours through the night (I really think that he somehow mastered these techniques along with me).

Each evening I made time to read to him for 30 minutes, while he quietly examined the movements of my lips and my facial expressions as they changed based on the mood of the story. Reading became our favorite bonding time. My son is nearly 3 at the time I am writing this, and he continues to enjoy our reading time together to the point that the “3 book rule” at bedtime had to be changed to the “5 book rule,” and he keeps negotiating with me.

1. Be a good example

You can’t expect your child to love reading if he never sees you read. Act excited. Show him that you truly enjoy reading and that it’s something you are looking forward to each day. It doesn’t have to be Anna Karenina or Prejudice and Pride, you can simply read your favorite magazine or newspaper. But no Smart Phones or Tablets, unless you want to have to buy your child one too.

2. Connect stories to children's lives

You’d be surprised how much this tactic can help your child love reading. I took my son to the fire station one Saturday and now he is fascinated with fire trucks and firefighters and he eagerly wants me to read him the “fire tuk” book every single night. I have it memorized by heart now. Another great idea is to substitute the main character’s name with your child’s name

and that’s when the magic happens. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory could be Sarah and the Chocolate Factory or Christopher Robin could turn into John Robin. Be creative, your child will appreciate it! Once they begin to understand what they are reading you can purchase personalized books with their name in the story. You can even buy books with my son’s favorite, Elmo! Visit http://www.putmeinthestory.com/

Also make sure to buy books based on your child’s interests. If you have a kid who is into animals, a book about kittens would interest her more than a pirate story would.

3. Create a comfortable reading environment

You can be certain that if Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is running on the TV your chance of getting your kid involved in anything, let alone reading is zero. Make sure you limit all possible distractions, and find a comfortable, quiet place. If you designate a special place just for reading, your child will get into reading mode the second you go there.

For example we have a reading pillow. For those of you who don’t know what a reading pillow is – reading pillows offer back and neck support to people who like to sit upright in bed and read, watch TV or just want to relax. I got the idea from the children’s nook at our local library. He loves reading in the kid-size pillows they have there, so I brought the idea home! Only I bought one we can both fit inside - that way we can snuggle. As soon as I pull the reading pillow out of the closet and place it on the bed, my son runs, picks up a few books and turns the reading light on. He just knows it is reading time now.

4. Have them read daily

Children love rituals. They’re something to look forward to! Set an exact time during the day for reading, or better yet, set two times during the day. Devote at least 5-10 minutes for reading each set time. You can start early in the morning before your busy schedule starts and then again before bed time. To encourage them you can create and let them decorate their own reading log or journal so they can keep track of how many minutes they’ve read each day. Give them a sticker or another prize each time they’ve completed a certain amount of hours reading.

5. Stay engaged

Talk with your child about the stories you’ve read together. Sometimes small children have a limited vocabulary and need the stories simplified, or you might be better off to just “read” them a story you’ve made up based on the book pictures. Ask them questions about the story or the pictures in the book. You can always ask them to tell you what they see in the illustrations or ask them how they think the character feels about a situation, or what they think the character is going to do next. Make sure you summarize the story once you finish reading. Have them retell the story you just read or ask them to “read” it to you. You may be surprised to find how vivid your child’s imagination really is.

6. Age appropriate books

As parents sometimes we tend to push our kids too much and we put unrealistic expectations on them. While it is good to challenge your kid, pushing them beyond what they can handle could have a negative effect on their reading. They can start viewing reading as a struggle rather than something fun and interesting. So make sure you pick appropriate books for your child’s age and interests.

I do recommend you to visit this site after you finish reading this article. It has great book reviews and gives you the appropriate age for each book: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/

7. Have books at home

Make sure you have plenty of books your child can pick and choose from at home. It’s pretty much like building their love towards vegetables. They will never start liking them if you don’t put them on their plate. So make sure that books are easily accessible, preferably at eye level. And if you see them looking through one, seize the moment and sit down next to them for some quality reading time.

8. Visit book stores and libraries

Most libraries offer a broad variety of children's books and there is often a specially-trained children's librarian to help kids find the right book for them. Helping them choose the book they want from the bookstore or the library could help them build independence and there is a much better chance for them to read it later.

Many public libraries also offer weekly story time events. These are great for the younger kids since many times they involve a puppet show and singing.

9. Make reading a family thing

Reading could be a great bonding time, as much as playing together or cuddling can be. This could be your special time together where your kid has 100% of your attention. And it doesn’t have to be just mommy-and-me or daddy-and-me time. Involve everyone in the reading process! Both you and your partner can take turns reading the different parts in the book (that way you don’t have to imitate the voices of male characters). And even if it’s only one of you who reads to your kid; it is always a lot more fun to know that daddy is also reading his own book or magazine.

10. Make reading fun Remember most of all that reading should be fun! Don’t push him too much and don’t expect him to have long spans of attention from the very beginning, and never judge his reading abilities. This could totally close the book on reading for your kid. Be a reading cheerleader. When he struggles with a word, cheer him forward. Your positive attitude can make all the difference in the world.

Use your imagination. Add a variety of voices, puppets to your reading arsenal. But most importantly to give your child your undivided attention and read, read, read.

I would like to finish with a quote from children’s author Emilie Buchwald, which I agree with wholeheartedly: "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."