I really believe that kids who enjoy books and reading from a young age will find scholastic and future career success a lot easier. Here are ten ideas to help you encourage your child to enjoy both books and the act of reading.
1. Read aloud to your child 
every day.
You can start when the child is a baby; hearing language develops familiarity with language, increases vocabulary and expands your child’s knowledge of the world.
Spending 20-30 minutes reading aloud to your child at bedtime can give you some wonderful “quality time” whilst also stimulating their imagination as they drift off to sleep. As your child becomes an independent reader it is still good to read aloud to them and also to get them to read aloud to you. This builds confidence and skill in speaking from text and is a great talent for future life.
2. Discuss the books with your child.
It is great to talk about the books you have read or the books they are reading in school. Try to relate happenings in your family life/past experience to stories they have read/heard. As they grow up, consider taking your children to movie versions of children's books (preferably after they have read them). Discuss, compare and contrast the movie and book versions of the same story with your child to develop analytical skills.
3. Buy books that you know will interest your child.
Adding to your child’s collection from a favourite series or perhaps a reference book on a subject of particular interest can make great gifts. Try to really get to know your children's interests and also which books they have already read. Second-hand bookstores can be great fun and make this exercise something both special and affordable.
4. Create a comfortable reading space for your child.
Give your child the chance to read without interruption from TV or other house goings on. Ensure good lighting and a quiet spot which provides good posture support and encourages your child to want to read more.
5. Buy good dictionary for your child and use it regularly together.
Next time your child asks what a particular word means send them to fetch their dictionary. Have them read out the entry aloud and discuss the word, particularly its different meanings. This is a fantastic way to build vocabulary and improve confidence in researching items in future.
6. Introduce books on other topics
Cookbooks for children can be great fun for a family cooking effort and helps your child to follow directions from a book. There is a the added benefit that cooking skills are being developed in parallel. Another option is a books on sport or a hobby (such as chess) which can be read together and analysed for practical implementation lessons afterwards. Books don’t always have to be a place of escape and adventure.
7. Get down to the local library.
Public libraries are a wonderful resource and there is always plenty to do for kids. Sign up for your library card and help your child learn about the importance of tracking that a book has been borrowed and must be returned by a specified time.
Find the children’s section and let your child browse about their favourite authors or subjects. Do not rush your child and offer to help find particular items.
At some stage introduce the catalogue system to your child (computerised probably) so that searching for items that are particularly desired can be done. Requesting a missing book from the librarian is a confidence building and positive experience for kids so try to go through this process too.
Try to visit the local library every week or two and give your child an inexpensive bag in which to carry their books back and forth. If there are reading programs or activities consider signing up you child and this will only help the love of books grow. Often there will be a calendar of events for kids so keep a track of what is on and try to be a part of it.
8. Visit the Web sites of favourite authors and illustrators.
The world has moved on from simple printed script and many authors now have websites with information about all of their books, a brief biography, and sometimes activities for children. Some sites have lots of additional things to do, you may also be surprised what fun can be had extending the book experience into the digital world.
(February 2006) (
