Creative Ways to Encourage Reading

How to encourage a child to read at a young age? Parents play an important role in motivating their children to read as they like to copy or model their parents’ behaviour. If the child observes that his or her parents have an enormous interest in reading books, magazines, and newspaper, he or she will become an enthusiastic reader or learner in future. They may develop a hobby in reading at the earliest stage by modelling parents’ reading habit. Parents can set a good example for the children in developing their interest in reading.

Parents can motivate their child/children to read in the following ways:

Availability of books

The availability and accessibility of books help to provide a positive reading environment for children to develop their interest in reading. Home is a place where the age-appropriate reading material is easily available to children. Parents can put the books in the bookshelf that is easily accessible for their children. Parents can set up a small home library to develop their interest of children in reading and learning. It is advisable for parents to select the content of the books that is suitable for the developmental age and interest of their children.

Children Reading by Flashcards

Flashcard is an effective way to introduce vocabularies to young children. Parents write the words on a card, then, ask your child to cut and paste a relevant picture. It helps the child to associate the words with pictures.

Parents can play a matching game of letters and words with your child. When parents give a picture of a ball to your child, you ask your child to look for the word “ball”. Parents can affirm your child when they have made an effort to try to match a word with a picture. Children like to learn through playing. If the child cannot match the word correctly with the picture correctly, parents will praise them of the effort of trying. When the child cannot find the answer, his mother encouraged him and said, “Good try.”

After they have learnt the words, parents may introduce simple book. By doing the groundwork, parents will help their young children to build confidence in reading.

Reading activities

Children will enjoy storytelling, reading aloud funny poem session, riddles and jokes. Parents can audiotape or videotape their children’s storytelling. It will help them to improve their reading by listening to or watching their taping.

It is essential for parents to put aside some time for family reading. My children love to sit on our laps as we read story books. It is a good bonding activity for family. They feel loved and treasure the family reading time.

Besides, parents can make use of reading activities outside home. I usually bring along my children’s favourite story books to distract them during long waiting time for medical consultation.

Develop their hobbies or interest

Parents need to develop their children’s hobbies and interest through reading and related activities. For instance, my second son wants to learn more about fireman. I brought him to Fire Station Museum to find out more information about fire-fighter and the work of fireman. I brought him to library to find out the books on fire-fighter.

In conclusion, Parents play an important role in motivating their children to read as they like to copy or model their parents’ behaviour.  The availability of books, flash cards, developing the children reading activities and hobbies are the effective ways to motivate a young child to read.