The decreasing attention span in our generation is a growing concern, but it is nothing compared to that of children, regardless of which generation they belong to. Keeping the interest of a child is a great challenge. If you plan to develop reading habits in your child, it can be even more difficult. Lucky for you, this article has the magical five tips that will help your kids get interested in reading stories.
Why Is It Important for Kids to Read?
Billie Eilish does not read, but she is doing alright. Sure, but not everyone has a generational music talent. There are a million other people suffering in their lives due to their inability to read or write. If you ask my advice, I would urge you to play it safe and bet on teaching kids to read before it’s too late.
You might be telling yourself that we can learn to read at any point in our life, even as an adult, but have you considered how difficult it is to learn to read as an adult in contrast to a kid? When we are kids, there is a natural ability to easily learn skills such as reading. Their brains are still in development and can easily absorb information.
The Benefits of Teaching Kids to Read
Cognitive Development
At a young age, we must develop our children’s cognitive ability as much as possible. Reading is an effective way to achieve mental development because it helps kids learn a language much quicker. Moreover, it is a great way to develop their reasoning and information-processing capability.
Empathy
Stories with a moral ending teach kids to learn important lessons that build their character and personality. Reading is a great way to achieve this, as opposed to a stern lecture. Children learn to relate to characters and empathize with their struggles as they watch them endure challenging situations before inevitably overcoming them.
A Strong Relationship
To develop a relationship with your kids, you can make it a regular practice to read to them. Many parents read to their children before putting them to bed. You can use this practice to build your bond with the children.
Literary skills
In addition to cognitive development, empathy, and a strong bonding opportunity, teaching kids to read at a young age helps build their literary skills and vocabulary.
Five Tips For Getting Kids Interested In Reading Stories
Now, without further delay, let’s dive into the five tips to get your kids interested in reading stories.
1. Start Early
Start as soon as you can by training the children to read at a young age. There is no age limit; start reading to them when they are toddlers and babies. This would help teach them to communicate by making sounds. The children will learn new words and worldly concepts as they age.
2. Cater to Their Interests
A kid is unlikely to learn from a book if they have no interest in it. Find their interests and use books that are related to their interests. For instance, if your kid likes cars, you should look for books that include cars.
3. Encourage Reading in Different Formats
As the kids grow older, you may want to expand outside children’s stories. Most parents stop reading to their kids as they age because the books grow longer and the stories become more detailed. However, this is your chance to further their interest in reading. Expose them to other reading formats, such as graphic novels, magazines, fictional novels, etc. This could develop their interest in reading.
4. Visiting the Book Shop
The trip to the bookshop could work wonders. If your kid is unsure what they like to read, they can explore the bookshop and find the book that clicks with them. Alternatively, you might even meet a fellow parent who can guide you toward the right books for your kids. It is a great place to explore thousands of stories stored on bookshelves.
5. Rewarding Readers
There is a psychological tendency to repeat actions that bring a sense of achievement. By rewarding kids for reading, you can build their reading habits. It will motivate them to read when they don’t want to. You can set reading goals and reward them for achieving them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope you better understand why reading is important and now know the five tips to help children become interested in reading.
In addition to this, if you want to learn why it is beneficial for children to read, find these benefits listed below: large vocabulary, improved imagination, better creativity, empathy, strong relationships, cognitive development, etc.
Moreover, it is important to make reading a part of their routine. This will motivate children to read every day. You could also benefit from creating a book club when the kids get older. Furthermore, you could use other activities to help the kids get more interested in reading. For example, you can encourage them to draw or paint book covers or a character from a story they like.
Remember that it will take time to build this reading habit. You have to be patient with your children and give them time. Do not brush off their questions, and encourage them to ask more.
More importantly, do not forget our five tips to get kids interested in reading stories.
Last but not least, this final tip, a bonus tip if you will, is to lead by example. You must also read books and build a reading habit. To start, grab a copy of Mama n’ Me by April Pierre. The book is beautifully written and illustrated, and it narrates a story that teaches children to value others through the traits they possess and not by how they look. The book also advocates for loving yourself and accepting yourself with all your flaws. The message is suitable for both children and adults and can be an excellent first read together.
Grab your copy today.
