Encouraging a love of reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give your child. Start them young, help them along, and you’ll be amazed at what they’re able to accomplish. Here are some tips for creating a reading-friendly environment in your home.
Read, read, read to your child, and read some more. This can begin in infancy. You don’t need to rip the rattle out of your baby’s hands and start drilling her on flash cards. Instead, sit your child in your lap and read picture books. Reading together provides a wonderful opportunity for parent and child to bond and will instill in your youngster an early love of reading.
Ask lots of questions. While you’re reading, ask your child questions about what she’s hearing. This encourages interaction with the book and is an effective way to build comprehension.
Be a good example by reading a lot yourself. You can tell your children how great reading is until you’re blue in the face, but if they never see you curl up with a book, they’re less likely to believe reading is actually an enjoyable pastime. Even if you’re not an avid bookworm, try to make an effort to let your children see you reading for at least a few minutes a day. It shows them that reading is something adults do, too.
This helpful article has oodles more tips on helping your child to establish a lifelong love of the written word.