Help Your Child to Love Books
One of the best things you can do for your kids is to help them develop a love of reading.
Regular reading plays a significant role in a child’s success in school and into adulthood. From strong vocabulary and writing skills to increased general knowledge and even empathy, kids can really benefit from
Whether you come from a long line of bookworms or you’re not much of a reader, these tips to help your kids love reading are easy and can have a huge longterm impact.
You don’t really need to do all of these things- just pick the ones that you feel are easiest and build on them. Remember that small, regular habits have more impact than big things that aren’t done as often.
So if you’re not in the habit of doing any of these things, pick ONE thing you can do and make it a daily habit.
Make going to the library a weekly, biweekly, or monthly trip
Make it a scheduled thing that your kids can look forward to. If you don’t know about all the amazing things libraries, check out this post.
Start a habit of reading aloud everyday
It doesn’t haven’t be at bedtime. A few pages at breakfast or lunch or as a quiet time in the afternoon are also great choices- whatever works best for your family!
Make books accessible
If books are in sight and within reach, they are much more likely to be picked up and read. Keep them on bedside tables, in baskets, and on shelves that kids can reach.
Give books as gifts!
Giving books as gifts shows kids that they are something important. I love to write a little note on the inside of the cover to make them personalized and extra special. It marks the occasion and will make for a special keepsake.
Add audiobooks to your daily schedule
Instead of music, try putting on an audiobook during car rides. Pick a winner, and be amazed at how the ‘Are we theeeeere yets’ disappear!
Let your kids see you read
You can’t expect your kids to read for pleasure if they don’t see you reading. Even if you’re not a huge reader, try to find a book you’ll enjoy and let your kids see you reading every once in a while. Kids pick up on what their parents do, so set a good example!
Watch the movie, see the play
Read a book or listen to an audiobook as a family and then watch the movie.
For an even more special experience, children’s theaters put on great renditions of favorite children’s books. If you’re lucky enough to have a children’s theater near year, check out what plays are showing during the year and try to read one of the books then go to the performance.
Let your kids pick out their own books
They don’t have to be on reading lists. Let them pick what interests them- even if it’s below reading level or in the ‘fluff’ category. As their love of reading grows, they will most likely grow into more challenging books.
Choose great literature
Even though you let them choose ‘fluff’ books to read on their own, make a point to choose great literature to include in read aloud time. Add some classics so they can be exposed to excellent writing. I’ve written about some of our favorites here and here.
Introduce them to graphic novels
Some kids might be intimidated by chapter books. Graphic novels are an excellent gateway into longer books.
Read aloud to your older kids
Even when you think they’re past the age of picture books or read aloud time, they’re not! Keep reading aloud to your kids even long after they’ve become independent readers.
Turn to books for information
Google is great, but try to have some reference books on hand as well. Making a habit of turning to books for information will help kids into adulthood.
Read books that apply to your life
If you’re going on vacation, find a book that takes place where you’ll be. It will add so many great memories to your trip. I still remember my mom reading Heidi to my sister and me during our vacation in Switzerland. Now that book holds a special place in my heart, and I always associate the book with a meaningful childhood memory.
Whether you’re going camping, going on a beach vacation, or traveling internationally, you can always find a book that will fit your theme.
Let your kids get their own library cards
Make it a milestone event. My kids are allowed to get their own library cards when they reach Kindergarten, and it’s a big deal! Most libraries have children’s cards that are linked to a parent’s card. Check with your branch to see what it offers.
Buy them Kindles
There is now a Kindle made especially for kids, and it’s great. This makes a perfect birthday/Christmas/special occasion present that can help encourage kids to do more independent reading. I bought one for my daughter last year, and she began devouring books because of it.
The children’s version is great because it comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+, which gives free, unlimited access to a ton of books and audiobooks. You can also borrow eBooks from the library on the Kindle, so kids can have instant access to whatever their favorite books are.
Another benefit is that parents can see their kids’ daily reading time and kids (or parents) can set daily reading goals that can be tracked.
Create special reading spaces
Making special reading spots will encourage kids to curl up and read. Bean bag chairs, tents, forts, a comfy chair….get creative.
Reading charts
Some kids love a challenge and will thrive on marking off their daily or weekly progress. Reading charts are especially great during the summer when reading is more unstructured. Create a simple chart and offer some kind of reward for hitting their goals.
Also check out your library for summer reading programs. Most libraries have really organized programs in the summer that kids can sign up for. Ours gives prizes for accomplishing reading goals.
Whether it’s DIY or through a library or school program, incentivizing reading can get kids excited about making regular reading a habit.
Make it fun!
Make it fun. Make it memorable. Make it special. Creating an environment where books are loved will make a lasting impression on kids. It’s really one of the best things you can do to set them up for lifelong success.
These are just some of the easy ways to inspire a love of books. If you don’t know where to start, pick one or two ideas and give them a try. Just remember to keep it fun and don’t push it. If it’s fun, kids will love it!