What are some good ways to encourage children to read more?

1. 77

   cactusbytheseaposted 12 years ago

   What are some good ways to encourage children to read more?

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2. 96

   Helena Rickettsposted 12 years ago

   I think by providing them with books that are about subjects that they are interested in.  I was always a big history fan as a child so my mother took us to the library and we would check out books on historical figures.  It's all I would read but I read a lot!

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3. 39

   securityproducts3posted 12 years ago

   Give them the first Harry Potter book and be amazed. I HATED reading until I read Harry Potter, but that really got me to love reading at an early age.

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   Jeani Nugentposted 12 years ago

   I helped my daughter find topics she was interested in and then we went and talked with the librarian for suggestions on books that would be good. We got 2-3 series suggested and then went on amazon and got the first book of each for her to try. She then could pick the series she wanted to read.
   
   I also have found books that relate to vacations we are going to take. If you ever travel to National Parks there is a great series for upper elementary/middle schoolers that deal with mysteries of the National Parks.

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5. 74

   miss_jkimposted 12 years ago

   Begin reading to children at a young age. If you have a book shelf with "mommy and daddy's" books on them, create a space for "baby's" books, so when they go after mommy and daddy's books, they don't hear, "no, no" but "here are baby's books." Even if you have to put them back on the shelf 100 times a day, the child needs to know there are books for him/her.
   
   Let them choose a book, even if it's the same one over and over, for you to read to them. Read it often, and when baby gets to the place where he/she wants to "read" to you, let them. Even if the story isn't quite the same, or the words don't match. It won't be long and you will find your child reading.
   
   My youngest daughter came to me at 3-years old and said, "I want hooked on phonics." When I asked why, she said, "Because I want to learn to read." We purchased Hooked on Phonics and by the end of the first grade, she had read the entire series of "Little House on the Prairie" by herself.
   
   She is a voracious reader to this day.

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   1. 74

      miss_jkimposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      In addition, read to your child and as the child grows and matures, let them read to you. No matter how much they stumble over words. If they hear you read, they will learn pronunciation and style from you.

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6. 73

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   One of my favorite methods is give them nothing to do but read a book. They will be forced to do so and actually pick it up just to get rid of boredom. It's what happened to me. Unfortunately, we now have so many tiny electronics, good luck with the attempt.

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   duffsmomposted 12 years ago

   Read to them every day.  Choose fun books and if they are young rhyming books can be a blast.  Sit with them in the living room and read to them acting out the parts with accents etc.  Pretty soon they will want to join in and read as well.  We had a lot of fun with that and read some great books too.

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   Pauline Davenportposted 12 years ago

   for little boys who can't sit still, I found that alphabet floor puzzles were good - there is enough activity to stop them getting fidgety and enjoy making up the puzzle, whilst at the same time learning the names of the letters and which order they go in - awesome really

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9. 61

   royalblkroseposted 12 years ago

   read to them, and READ AROUND THEM.  children imitate their parents.
   if your kids see you reading, you set a precedent for that behaviour.
   another thing you can do is make reading interesting and enjoyable.  make every outing an opportunity to read and learn more words. Take the time for them to read street signs, outdoor advertising.

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      Pauline Davenportposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hiya royalblkrose -I used to do that when my children were little too- it used to take ages doing the shopping when we were reading street signs , and also the big painted STOP sign on the road as well. We had loads of fun

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10. 87

    Mama Kim 8posted 12 years ago

    Read yourself. Especially when they're young, let them see you read and chances are they'll want to do it too. Little ones try so hard to imitate their parents.

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    vinexshopposted 12 years ago

    The best way is to provide them those subjective books in which they are having interest and also guide them that what would be the benefits to read.

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12. 61

    Rosyel Sawaliposted 12 years ago

    Read more yourself. Children who grew up with parents who like to read tend to be readers as well. At least that's based on my personal experience. ^_^

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    algarveviewposted 12 years ago

    My kids don't know how to read yet, since they are very little, but nonetheless they are very interested in books, they ask me to go to the bookstore, they ask me to buy them books, to read them stories and sometimes they sit down in my reading area and go through their books and I think the reason for this is because they always see me reading... So, if you are interested, that will encourage them...

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    connorjposted 12 years ago

    (1) Model the behavior that you wish them to do.
    (2) If they are young and just learning buy Reader Rabbit Learning Journey II (play it with them and be amazed).
    (3) Take your flat screen out of your gathering room and replace it with a fireplace and lots and lots of bookshelves with books and nothing else. Then model for them by reading and chatting in this room rather than infront of the flat screen...
    (4) Allow then to develop hobbies and particpate in sports and then pair these with books about those topics...
    (5) Visit your local library or Barnes & Noble instead of restaurants... and pair dinner or snacks with reading...

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    onlinehubberposted 12 years ago

    Ask your children to read comic (If the are young). Apart from that you can ask your daughter to read fashion novels and ask your son to read sports novel for their  own interest.

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       Pauline Davenportposted 12 years agoin reply to this

       Yes comics really are good. My mum bought us comics each week and I still love to watch cartoons. I am an avid reader too, I'm sure in because of those weekly comics

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