1. Research on reading generally agrees that the most critical aspect
of reading is how a child feels about reading. Positive reinforcement
from parents and teachers helps. Children need to know that adults
in their lives care about reading.
2. Research also agrees that in most cases, forcing a child to read
will yield no positive results. Most children should not be REQUIRED
to read each day, especially if it's forced reading for pleasure.
Some families find that having a reading time when the whole family
reads works. Even if the child is reluctant, he knows that the
time is reserved for reading. Let him choose to read light material,
if nothing else.
3. A book allowance is a good idea. In addition to whatever other
allowance a child may receive, provide an allowance for books.
Even if the allowance allows for the purchase of one paperback
book or magazine a week, you've helped encourage reading
4. Regular visits to a good magazine rack, coupled with purchases,
provide reading material. Parents will probably want to exercise
some judgment on reading purchases, but magazines your child shows
some interest in and which you approve are a good way to provide
material and encourage reading.
5. Subscriptions to a magazine or magazines for your child or student
are a good idea. There's a certain amount of excitement in "ownership" and
a for many students it's very exciting to receive mail.
6. Model reading. Children who see their parents reading, often become
readers and come to accept that reading is a matter-of-fact activity.
7. If your child is willing, whatever his or her age, don't be afraid
to read aloud. Reading to children is one of the best ways to encourage
interest in reading. Older brothers and sisters can read to younger
children. If you're child is too old to be read to (some would
suggest that no one is too old to be read to), just read articles
aloud from the newspaper from time to time.
8. Establish a place in the child's room for his or her books. A
feeling of ownership, again, is important.
9. Schedule regular family visits to the library--even if your child
doesn't seem interested in taking out books.
10. Introduce your child to the librarian. Librarians are anxious
to help children look for interesting reading material. Make sure
your child knows the school librarian too.
11. By all means recommend books to your child. Tell the child how
difficult the books are (or are not) and let the child decide if
he or she wants to read them.
12. If your child starts a book and doesn't want to finish it --
ok. Hasn't that happened to you?
13. Buy books for yourself and let your children know you do it.
14. If your child decides to read something to YOU...be patient and
let him or her read to you.
15. Don't forget book browsing on the World Wide web. Try Amazon.com
as a great starting point.
16. You might find that kids will read pages on the world wide web.
Help them find pages with content that fits their own personal
interests.
17. It's important that children have hobbies or interests. Help
your children develop such interests and make sure they have or
seek reading material about their interests.
18. Praise your child for his or her reading when appropriate. For
example, praise the child when a long or difficult book is completed.
19. When a topic of interest develops which involves the whole family--an
upcoming trip or vacation, for example--bring home some books on
the topic to share with the family.
20. Attend used book sales at libraries and other places where good
books can be had inexpensively.
21. Discuss with your child any book he or she is reading for a class
at school. Read the book yourself.
22. When you and your child are working on something together have
him or her read the directions. Many models and construction kits
turn out better when a child reads the instructions aloud.
23. Discuss ideas in books your child reads. For that matter, where
appropriate, discuss ideas in books you read. For that matter,
read the books your children read.
24. Display good books somewhere in your home. Let children know
that books have an important place in the home. And don't limit
the books to a few essentials...have a generous selection of a
wide variety of books.
25. Look for computer programs which encourage reading.
26.
Check out text adventure games...an old computer game genre which
required a lot of reading and thinking. A search on "text
adventure games" on a major World Wide Web search program
should yield many choices. Check the Creative Teaching Links page
for good places to look.
27. Have your child put his name in his books. Ownership is important!
Some parents even recommend bookplates or custom bookplates.
28. Help your child develop a non-sports hobby. Then provide him
with books on the hobby. Hobbie help develop curiosity.
