Tips To Make Your Child Fall In Love With Books

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

My love for reading

I was not much of a reader as a young child. But I developed a love for books once I was in college and this love still continues to lure me even today. Reading is not something you are born with. It has to be cultivated and nurtured right from the start. I have loved how books can captivate our senses and make us fall in love with them over and over again. I believe, there is no better way to enrich your mind and soul than by reading a book.

Will my baby share my habit of reading?

When my baby was born I made sure that I would make her share the same love for books. But in reality, things are quite complicated than what we imagine. When my baby was born, I had bought a few storybooks for her to read (for the future that is and I probably got carried away while shopping for books for myself). My baby is two years now and I want her to like reading and develop the same love that I have for books.

But I guess it’s too soon to impose my affection for the written words on her. She does leaf through certain pictorial books but doesn’t spend more than five minutes in it. But I will make sure that she has access to books and will help nurture this great interest in the coming months and years.

How to make your child fall in love with books?

Developing an early love for reading helps in your child’s psychological, emotional, and social development. Researchers have also shown that reading to children is a way to boost your child’s IQ and inculcate a love for reading. ( wouldn’t you want that for your child)

But, how do I get my child to love reading? Getting children to read books is not an easy task as it requires a lot of attention and commitment. With the rise of technological frenzy in the world, written words are somewhat losing their appeal among people, especially the young crowd. The young crowd is more drawn towards television or mobile which acts as an easy way of having fun.

Despite all these distractions, teaching your child to fall in love with books is possible. All you need is a little bit of effort and consistency on your part as parents. Though ‘one size doesn’t fit all’, here are a few ideas which you can use to make your little one find the written word more appealing. How to get your child to love reading- read on these points:

Start reading to your child from early on

At what age should a child be able to read?

There is no proper time to make your kid fall in love with books. If you read to your kid every day from an early age, chances are that your kid will automatically find books appealing. It is not necessary that you read to your kid only during bedtimes. Carry a book and read out stories from it or make up your own stories that you may like and tell it to them. You will soon find that your child will ask questions relating to what you have said and this will make him/her more inquisitive.

Read books together

If you expect your child to develop a love for reading then you must set an example by devoting time to read yourself. Children tend to copy their parents and as such, they would look at you for inspiration. If you come home from work and turn on the television or the computer your kids are more likely to do the same. By telling them to read a book while you yourself find the virtual world more appealing is like preaching to an empty choir.

Limiting the use of television, mobile, or computers till the time reading has been well established can help encourage reading in your home. Sit with your kid with a book (it need not be a children’s book) and start reading. Your kids will follow you and will start reading in no time. It has been found that parents who read have children who read too. If you have a habit of reading, be it books, magazines, newspapers around the home, you are more likely to reinforce the notion that books and reading are part of daily life.  Be a good role model for your kids and you will have what you desire

Buy colorful books to attract their attention

Young children are more interested in books that contain colorful pictures or illustrations. Remember our aim is to make them love books, not start reading from day one. Our choice of a book has to be age-appropriate. So choose carefully for your toddler so that the books can attract your child and hold his/her attention.

Few book suggestions for a 2-year-old toddler

1. Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard         (Buy at Amazon.in)
2. Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal    (Buy at Amazon.in)
3. Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough    (Buy at Amazon.in)

You may also want to read our posts on

• Adverse effects of excess screen time in kids
• Why Child safety should be your priority and how to prevent injury

Create a corner or a special place for reading

We all like to have our own special place where we can sit and read. So do our kids. Small kids love to have a place of their own where they can snuggle up and read without interruptions. Place a comfortable chair in your reading area, with some colorful rugs and a bookshelf with their favorite books. All these will make the reading process more thrilling and amusing.

Look for your child’s interest

Never push your child beyond what they can attain: every child has its own unique capabilities. Some may learn to read fast while some may be slow readers. It is up to us as parents that we never push our children beyond what they can attain.

Our goal is not to see how he/she pronounces the words but to inculcate the habit of reading or develop a love for books.

When we mechanically try to teach kids how to read, we are unconsciously taking all the fun out of reading. If we push them out of their comfort level, then they may feel lost or inferior to others. This will seep in a lot of negativity and low self-esteem which might continue his whole life and will lead him away from books and reading.

You should not enforce your interest in your child. Your child is different, so let him read what attracts him without any interference. Comics or sports magazines may not be your cup of tea but it might be for him, Therefore look for your child’s interest and give him/her what holds their attention.

Some book suggestions for 3 to 4-year-olds

1. All by Myself by Mercer Mayer                                   (Buy at Amazon.in)
2. Olivia by Ian Falconer                                                 (Buy at Amazon.in)
3. The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone   (Buy at Amazon.in)
4. Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson  (Buy at Amazon.in)

Let your kid pick

Another thing I as a parent would never do is stop my kid from reading whatever he/she wants. I would definitely keep a tab on what the book is about, apart from that I would not bar her from reading anything.

However, if your child is reading something you do not approve of, (anything containing offensive, sexist, or poorly written books) then the worst thing we as parents can do is ban what they love. Talk to them and tell them why this particular book is not right for them. It is better to be open when you talk about it and not shame your kids from having different tastes than yours. You can allow them to make a book recommendation and discuss the book together. Once you know your kids taste in books, encourage them to select books on their own and read it to you. This will empower them and make them responsible

Mix and match

How do children develop an interest in reading? How do you develop reading habit in your child?

In order to keep your child’s reading habit intact, try mix and matching what you read. Reading habit should not involve only a particular genre of books. If you see that your child is getting bored with a particular reading routine, try changing the mood.

Introducing audiobooks, a graphic novel, sports magazine, comic books or changing the genre from fiction to nonfiction books will greatly help.  It is vital that you allow your kid to explore all genres so as to find that the books which ignite your kid’s love for reading could be from a genre they have never tried yet.  Soon you will notice that he/ she will develop a lifelong interest with the written words.

Keep them engaged

Children have a short attention span. In order to keep your child captivated, we as parents have to make efforts. Try to be an effective storyteller to your child. This will make reading sessions more fun. Try to read the stories out loud, by using funny voices or by enacting it to make it more lifelike. Ask questions relating to the story or which character did they like the most or the least or how do you think the story would end. The more engrossing and interactive you can make, the more engaged they would be.

Boost their confidence

We as parents are not perfect. So to expect perfection from our kids will end in disappointments. Everybody likes to be appreciated. Be it from your boss in the office or your wife at home. The same goes for kids without saying. When your kids hear words of encouragement from parents, they tend to do well. Encouragements are the most powerful motivator for children. So when they do something good make it a point to say good things to them. Words like well done or Atta boy/girl may sound simple but it has the potential to make your child deliver good results. So never berate them for not being able to read properly or not knowing a particular word. When you see your child struggling, help them out by boosting their confidence. Build them up and they will stand tall and strong for the rest of their life.

Keeps books easily accessible to kids

This is something I believe can help greatly in your kids having a love for books. Just like keeping a pack of chocolates in front of you tempts you to have one, the same is the case with books. If you have books lying in some corner of the shelf, it is going to stay there without any utility. Place books on the table, on your kid’s shelf which is easily accessible, and see how they attract them into picking one up and ready to read. Place two or three books on the coffee table and let your child leaf through it. Your kids will most probably pick one up and start reading. Make books your go-to instead of the TV remote or the mobile, and you will discover that your kid will gravitate more towards reading for enjoyment.

Book recommendations for 5 to 6-year-olds

1. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein (Buy at Amazon.in)
2. A Bear called Paddington  Michael Bond & Peggy Fortnum  (Buy at Amazon.in)
3. Greatest Stories Ever Told by Tony Bradman & Tony Ross(Buy at Amazon.in)
4. The BFG  by Roald Dahl  (Buy at Amazon.in)

Books as gifts

I love when someone gifts me a book. And I like to do the same. For me books are priceless and I cannot think of a better option than giving these priceless items to someone. Rather than giving toys as gifts that would break in a day or two, try giving your children books that will show your kids that books are fun, valuable, and exciting.

Books even on vacation

Reading should not happen only on the four walls of your home. Make reading a part of your daily life and even when you are out on a vacation. Even though it may be alluring to ditch your regular reading habit when your kids have a break from their school, doing so would mean taking a step backward for your kid. Even during vacations or any long holidays, you should continue to read regularly with your kids, to prevent reading regression and learning loss.

Make a habit of reading every day

Sitting for hours with your kid may not be possible and it will tire their minds easily. If you want to make reading fun and not a boring activity, then sit with your kid for 10 to 15 minutes every day. Reading to them for a short span of time, in the beginning, will help them develop the habit of reading, and they will associate it as an important daily activity. In no time your kid will get in the habit of reading daily and by themselves.

Join a library

If you have a library nearby, make it a point to visit it every week and take your child along with you. Allow your child to pick his favorite book for the week. As your kid grows older, he/she can join the library and search for books and authors of his choice.

Book recommendation for 6 to7-year-olds

1. Monster Practice: Multiplication and Division Age 6-7 by Alison Oliver (Buy at Amazon.in)
2. Charlotte’s Web. E. B. White (Buy at Amazon.in) Get your Free Kindle edition
3. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol  (Buy at Amazon.in)
4. The Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton (Buy at Amazon.in)
5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S Lewis  (Buy at Amazon.in)
6. Roald Dahl Collection  (Buy at Amazon.in)
7. Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren  (Buy at Amazon.in)

Even if all else fails, keep trying

If your child does not seem to like books or reading, it should not daunt your spirits. Don’t give up even if you feel that your child will not touch a book ever again. It might be so that he/she has not found the right books to captivate his mind.

Let your child explore the different genres of books like poetry, graphic novels, and biographies of people, sports heroes, or even gross-out science books. The key point here is to not stop him even if you think that certain books or novels do not appeal to you.

Unless your kid has some learning disability, (in which case it is best to consult a professional) or is just not interested in reading, try different approaches like listening to audiobooks. Read it to them aloud and tell them stories as long as your kid will let you do it

 

Every child is different. Some may pick up the habit of reading effortlessly, while some may require a lot of effort. But in any case, starting this habit of reading early can help a lot in developing this great hobby. Try to be patient and be consistent. Don’t bombard your kid with a lot of reading syllabus as this might take the charm out of everything. Don’t have a judgemental attitude towards your child and always make sure to congratulate him/her when he/she has read something. This will boost their confidence and will encourage them to read more. You can also try watching movies based on books to enrich his experience and ignite his imagination.

Everybody has a different take when it comes to making their child read. If you think you have other ways in which children can fall in love with books, then share your ideas. Write to us in the comments below what tricks helped you to make your child fall in love with books. Share if you have liked this article so that other parents who are struggling with their kids can benefit from it.