How To Raise A Reader

Studies have shown that one of the most important indicators of a child’s future success in school and in the workplace is the ability to read and the love of reading. The ability to read well opens up access to all types of different information. The ability to read well also increases a child’s ability to process information of different types, to solve problems, and to explore intellectual and creative activities on his or her own.

Studies have also shown that the primary component of successful early reading is the involvement of the parents during the child’s formative years: from the ages of just 6 months through the elementary school years. That’s right: start reading to your kids before they even know what words are, and to raise a reader, keep reading with your children and in front of your children throughout their childhood and teenage years.

Here are some tips that will help you raise a reader.
1. Be an example
While it is important to read to your children every day, you also need to be an example of reading. Make sure that your children see you reading on a regular basis so that they know that it is an important activity to you and to other people. You should also have books around the home. Simply seeing a number of books around the home helps your child feel that books are an every day part of life. Comfort and familiarity with books leads to interest in books which will also lead to a love of books and a love of learning.

2. Make reading part of your child’s daily schedule
It is important that you establish good reading habits for your children. By making reading a part of your child’s daily schedule you let your child know that reading is an important part of life. Make sure that you schedule reading time at a time of day when it will be easy to remember, such as in the morning, at lunch, or every night before your child goes to bed. Scheduling reading in will make your child expect to read and look forward to reading.

3. Read to your children
When your children are young, it is absolutely essential that you read to them out loud every day. Choose books that they are interested in and books that will keep their attention. As your children grow older and learn how to read by themselves, make sure that you read along with them so that they can still have the opportunity to read with you and to have you help them with their reading.

4. Read your child nursery rhymes
It is especially beneficial for babies and toddlers to hear nursery rhymes, because they are easy for babies and toddlers to learn and to repeat. Having books full of nursery rhymes can help your children learn how to identify letters and words in patterns and orders that are already known by heart.

5. Take your child to storytime
Almost all local libraries offer storytime for children of a number of different ages. Many libraries offer storytime that is directly geared towards babies. You can also take your toddlers to storytime, along with your older children.

6.Take your child to the library on a regular basis
Even if your child cannot yet read, you can let your child pick out books that are appealing to him or to her. Children will be more interested in reading books that appear interesting to them. Taking your child to the library on a regular basis helps your child become accustomed to the library, familiar with books, and excited about reading and about finding interesting books about different topics.