I am often asked on the Instagram, what we do to make our children read so many books. And recently I got the literal question: “What are you doing that your kids read so much? And this is in the age of tablets and mobile phones?”
Today I’m not going to tell you what to do and what not to do, but I will just show you what we (as a family) do, that our children are bookworms, love books and read books like crazy.
When reading to a child, we satisfy her, his emotional needs – not even the newest or smartest computer or television will do it for us.
I don’t have to remind you about the benefits of reading books. I’ve written many posts about it, find it HERE and HERE.
I will just list a few of the profits from reading books:
While reading, we are close to our children, we hug them, we look at them with love, we spend time together.
In a way that is understandable to them, the parent tells with his behavior: “I love you and you are very important to me.” It is thanks to the feeling that he is important and loved that the child flourishes, begins to build self-confidence, kindness, empathy, and social skills.
Both my children are avid readers. Especially David is the kind of person who reads everything. He can get his hands on comics, series, educational books, newspaper, the back of cereal boxes — you name it. So recognizable: I was the same as a child!
Victoria is still a bit more reluctant to get lost in a book, but once she’s in, she’s hooked. She’s especially fond of series: currently, he is reading “Mummy and the Mermaid” and she’s loving it!
I love that moment when children suddenly discover the magical world which only reveals itself to the eye of the reader!
Going back to the question: “What are you doing that your kids read so much? And this is in the age of tablets and mobile phones? I believe that there is no such thing as “the era of tablets and mobile phones”. Of course, I’m not blind and I know that almost everyone is stuck to this all the time. Why are our children stuck? The answer is simple – because we have taught them to do so!
A small child will not start to use a tablet and phone on his own and will not find these items more fascinating than any other box in the house.
A small child, however, sees that FOR US tablets and phones (and for some even a TV set) are fascinating devices.
People spend many hours a day in front of them, constantly staring at them, they always reach for that phone, constantly read something, check something, write, and reply.
In this way, the child learns that this little color screen is something fascinating, because the family does something in it all the time (let’s agree if after entering the house the phone was put on the shelf, this little child might not even notice its existence).
Why don’t my children reach for tablets or phones during the day?
The answer is simple and quite firm – because they can’t!
We have very clear rules at home about how to use these devices, and while kids don’t need some sort of online resource to do their homework, they just can’t use them, and that’s it.
However, they can do it on the weekend. Both on Saturday and on Sunday, they have an hour at their disposal and decide themselves whether they prefer to play something or watch cartoons during this time.
At the same time, I also know that there are children who act differently, are more demanding, you may prefer different and … ease. So I repeat – I am saying how it is with us, not how it should be with you :)
I would like to emphasize here that I am far from judging other parents who act differently, whose children use phones and tablets every day. It is your life, your standards, and your rules.
Everyone has the right to use what they see fit.
Therefore, if you want to change your children’s habits and want them to read more, then … maybe look at yourself first and do a simple analysis – write down how much time a day you spent with the book and how much time in front of the phone. My phone (iPhone) already has a built-in app that measures every second spent in front of it and counts everything ruthlessly. Monitor how much time you spend with a book and how much time you spend watching TV?
So, when recently I was asked if I could share my tips and thoughts on encouraging children to read. I have never really thought about it before, but it was an interesting exercise to sit down and write down my ten tips.
Encouraging children to read. Here are ten tips:
- Read to your children.
Start reading to your children at a young age. Have your baby on your lap and look at board books together. Use an interactive style when reading: point out animals, help your baby turn the page. I find that tactile books are fun to read with babies (in our family, the Usborne series ‘That’s not my dinosaur/baby/hedgehog/etc’ is a huge favorite!). Activity / lift-the-flap surprise books are fun too (like Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell). The attention span of babies and toddlers is obviously very short, but don’t be discouraged. You don’t really have to read the entire story. Just see it as a flexible game, there’s no need to get through the book or even the page! What counts is that your baby realizes early that books are an important and integral part of your life.
When your child is a bit older, you can start reading picture books and short stories together. I like keeping a stack of currently favorite books in the child’s bedroom. Reading to your child before bedtime is a wonderful way to calm down and connect.
From around the age of 4, it can be fun to start reading chapter books. Slowly, stories can become more complex and exciting. Involve your child in the story: ask questions (‘What do you think happens next?’). Explain new words and concepts. Talk about the way the characters behave and use different voices for each of them. Let them be carried away with the story! Be not afraid to make things extra exciting — even a little bit scary!
Try to connect the child’s experiences and everyday life to the books you are reading together. When you see something which reminds you of a story, point it out to your child. And vice versa, when something familiar happens in a book, mention that to your child (‘Remember when we did something similar?’ etc).
When your child is starting to read by him/herself, do not stop reading to him! Involve him: follow the text with your finger, so he can see where you are. Let him read some words or sentences to you as well.
Keep reading to your children, all the way through primary school and beyond. Even teenagers love to be read to!
Find HERE the list of 10 BEST BEAUTIFUL BOOKS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS OLD. - Book series. (Harry Potter!)
When your child is ready, read Harry Potter to him/her. I have read the entire series to David. It took me over two years, but I’m sure this has helped so much in getting them to become avid readers. By the time I finished the final book of the series, they both read the entire series again, by themselves. And after that, they were hungry for more!
I feel series are a great way to keep children motivated to read. Of course, you want to find out what new adventures your favorite characters are up to!
- Cut back on screens, turn off the television.
We are pretty much a screen-free family, which I am sure helps so much. Our children don’t have iPads or a game station to engage themselves with. We don’t even watch television very much (except for Friday evenings, when we don’t cook but eat yummy snacks in front of the television and watch a fun series of a film together).
When our kids need some downtime when they are tired or bored and when they want to be carried away on adventures in made-up worlds, they curl up in a corner and read. I’m not saying you should take away all screen, but cutting down on your child’s screen time will directly be beneficial to his/her reading.
Of course, it is important to realize that reading takes much more patience than the relative ease of being entertained by watching television or playing video games. So some extra encouragement and persistence might be needed! - Create a cozy reading corner.
Children generally like to be around their parents. I have given up on the idea of a playroom a long time ago — toys live in our living room, and so do books and magazines. We have a big and cozy corner sofa in our living room with tons of pillows and blankets. It’s a very inviting space to curl up and read, and still be part of the hustle and bustle of family life.
Creating a reading nook is fun. In summer, you can even set up some pillows and books outside. If your kitchen is big enough, it is a great idea to have a reading corner there as well. - Let your children choose their reading.
When your child hasn’t yet ‘fallen’ for books yet, do not give up. Keep motivating them to read — magazines, joke books, cookbooks — anything! I remember, when I was young, comic books were not considered good reading. But honestly, my children love comics, and if that is what is needed to get them to read — fine! Reading should be fun!
Motivate them to read something new as well. It can help to find reading materials that reflect your child’s passions and piques their interest — be it knights, sports, dinosaurs, or princesses. Make sure the book is not too difficult — if it is beyond their reading ability, they will loose interest altogether. - Have easy access to reading material at home.
Surround your children with good and attractive books! Visit the library and go to bookshops. Take your time there. Look at books together, sit down on the floor, forget about the time. Being surrounded by books is such magic. Bring home books and be excited!
My children can each pick out a book when they get their final school rapport of the year, and it’s such a highlight for them. (Plus — it keeps them entertained when we’re traveling to our holiday destination!) They love getting book vouchers for their birthdays too.
I think it’s important for children to have easy access to books on different levels and themes. We have books in the children’s rooms and on display in the living room, there are piles of books and magazines next to our bed that we like to read from on weekend mornings… You honestly can’t get around books in our house! - NEVER watch the movie before reading the book.
It’s just the rule. (Each time when we finished a Harry Potter book, we watched the movie together. Fun!) - Make time for reading.
When schedules are full and lives are busy, make sure to carve out time to relax and read. Make it a priority! (This is not always easy for me, and I admit that the past year has been so busy that our bedtime reading has suffered. Not good!) - Talk about books, share your enthusiasm!
Share your own love for reading, and be interested and involved in what your child is reading. Talk about great authors and great illustrators. Discuss classics. Get crafty: create pretty bookmarks and ex-libris together. When your child has a friend over, read to both of them so they can share the enthusiasm! - Search help if needed
When you feel, you have tried everything and your child is still reluctant to read, you might want to talk to a teacher, pediatrician, or an educational therapist. Perhaps there is a physical problem (hearing/vision) or your child has a learning disability and therapy can help.
When our children read, there is no outside world for them – they do not hear us, see us, do not notify us, that the sun is going down, it is getting dark, that they are hungry, that they are uncomfortable. Only sometimes they go use the toilet. I wonder who they took it after? :)
I hope you will find my tips useful!
And as always, I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the topic as well! Write to them all in the comments below.
Sending you warmest regards,
Joanna
xxx
