Raising Kids Who Love to Read

There was a question in Mamapedia about motivating resistant readers. This is a common concern regarding school age children.

To harried parents few things sound more luxurious than a quiet weekend away – no cell phones, no TV’s – with a pile of unread books. To the vast majority of our children, few things sound more torturous. It’s not that millennial kids don’t enjoy reading. Most do. It’s just that an abyss of high-tech alternatives have left them yet to discover reading offers a world of excitement that could put their iPhones to shame.

But reading isn’t just entertaining, it’s the foundation of education. Reading enriches the imagination, builds vocabulary, teaches grammar, and makes students better spellers and writers. Studies consistently show better readers get better grades than less proficient readers, and are ultimately better positioned to succeed in our fast-paced, achievement-oriented society.

And with summer reading assignments looming, the challenge of getting our kids to dive into books becomes that much more pressing. Here are some suggestions toward ensuring your kids reap and enjoy the bountiful benefits of reading this summer and far beyond.

Double check the reading level. When kids take on books beyond their proficiency level, they can become rapidly disheartened. To determine whether a book is too hard for your child, have her read the first page aloud to you. If she stumbles over more than five words, put it back on the shelf and help her make another selection.

It’s in the bag. Stash some books in a totebag and pull them out whenever you and your kids get caught in a holding pattern. Whether waiting at the doctor’s office or a restaurant, your children will be thankful to have books to bust their boredom.

Start a parent/child book club. This hot new trend in book clubs offers benefits galore ranging from heightened reading skills to multigenerational bonding. Find out everything you need to know about organizing your own parent/child group.

Enlist Hollywood. Seeing a story on the big screen (or a small one) can provide just the spark kids need to pick up the book version. Flicks like Lemony Snicket, Harry Potter, Matilda are sure to have your little stars hitting the library in no time.

Gear them with glossy pages. Kids needn’t peruse classics to reap the benefits of reading. Magazines that zero in on children’s passions – from skateboarding to fashion – can inspire even the most reluctant readers to start flipping pages. Techno-savvy kids can pull up favorite magazines online at sites like Sports Illustrated Kids and Time for Kids.

Create a library on wheels. Propensity toward carsickness aside, keeping a supply of books in the car will turn all those idle hours in traffic into valuable reading time.

Turn them on to books on tape. Listening to a book on tape while following along in the real thing gives struggling readers (or those who simply want to tackle a book that’s beyond their reading level) an opportunity to enjoy the story without getting bogged down by difficult words.

Money talks. In addition to your child’s regular allowance, provide a small allotment exclusively for reading material. Even if all your kid can afford is a paperback book or magazine, you’ve helped your cause along.

Read to Them. For kids who are learning to read (and even those who are old pros!) it’s always a treat to listen to a book. Use expression and intonation as you read to encourage your kids to do so on their own.

Read with Them. Given the pressures of modern parenting, reading a juicy novel ourselves is apt to get pushed to the bottom of our to-do lists. But children learn by example; to truly appreciate the magic of reading, they need to see us do the same. So lock down the laundry room, diss the dirty dishes, and curl up on the couch with your kids – and that delicious pile of unread books.