How to Raise A Reader

Raising a reader is something every parent should attempt to do. A child who loves to read will find most scholastic adventures to be easier. The following are some great tips for how to raise a reader:

Tip one: Read to your child- A child who gets read to on a daily basis, will typically find a real joy and love of stories. This usually results in them continuing reading on their own for their entire life. National studies show that a child will become a more proficient reader, and learn to love reading if they are read to 20 minutes each day.

Tip two: Make sure there are tons of books available to your child- A child should have access to all kinds of worlds, and information on everything from bugs to cars to fantasy stories. So, provide them with a well-rounded library, and make sure that their appetite for adventure or learning is well fulfilled by the books you have on the shelves. Continually purchase books to fill their interest, or make sure that they have the access they need to books, this might mean library books from the school library, or from the actual library. It might mean trading books with friends or neighbors. The idea is that they should have their own card, and a ride to the library as needed.

Tip three: Let your kids see you reading- It is important to be a good role model to your child when it comes to reading, otherwise they may not become the reader that you want them to be. Help them see that when you tell them reading is great that you actually mean it, and are taking your own words to heart. Children who see a parent reading are far more likely to want to read themselves. Read to them, read with them, read in front of them.

Tip four: Give your child creative license- This means let your child read whatever they want. Support them in their desire to read whatever they want. This means if they want to read documentaries, help them find the best-written ones. If they want to read sci-fi, help them find ones that are written to their age level. In school they are told what to read, at home, let them read what they want. They will love reading far more if they have some say in what they read, who they read, how fast or how slow they read, etc.

Tip five: Encourage reading- One of the obstacles to veracious readers these days is screen time. Kids spend far more time online, in front of the television, and playing video games. If you want to help your child become a reader, limit their screen time. This does not mean force them read instead, rather let them find that on their own, but make sure they have time that they can find it, by not letting them fill every moment with television, etc.