Reading habit is the best habit which you can help your child imbibe. It is very important to encourage reading in children as this habit can help them perform well in their academics as well as it will help them from a career point of view. Read on to find some helpful tips for helping child to imbibe reading habit.If you want your child to take deep interest in reading, you should create an environment in the house so that it encourages him to read. Books and the characters in them have great impact on the child when he or she is in school or college and most often it is seen in his or her life too. If his or her reading is very high, it can form his or her career of life too. Reading is not spontaneous or short term hobby. It is a life long leisure pursuit and it helps build vocabulary, strengthen imagining power and helps educate your child too.
There are few steps that you can take to back your child’s reading hobby and make him feel special about it too. Reading is one of the hobbies that have all benefits and it is not just making one happy and contented.
Steps and Guidelines for Raising a Child who Reads
Have a quick look at few steps and guidelines for raising a child who reads.
Buy Books
Do not just restrict yourself in buying books that are age restricted. Fill your home with all kinds of books.
Reading habit of your child will increase if he sees books in every room and every shelf. If you cannot spend lot of money, buy used
books. They are cheap. If your child is quite young, buy him picture books. You can also have independent reading books for young children.
Attend Book Fares and Sales
Try to take your child along with you whenever there is any book fare or sale in your city. Let him or her select few books and see what type of interest he has. Show excitement about purchasing new books. You should also buy some books for yourself so that you also read when your child reads his or her book. This will create the perfect reading environment.
Buy Bookshelves For Your Child
Buy book shelves for your child so that he is able to arrange and keep his or her favourite books as he or she wishes to keep. You can keep books in different rooms and so you need few bookshelves for that.
Purchase Other Mediums of Reading
Do not forget to buy other books, magazines and encourage your child to read newspapers daily. Invest in buying magazines that have suitable content for your child. If your child has interest in sports, you can subscribe for a good and informative sports magazine for him or her.
Read Yourself
If you want your child to develop reading habit, right from the very beginning if he sees you reading, he will automatically get into the habit of reading books. You can read out
stories during bedtime or by the warm fire in winter evenings.
Play Word Making Games
There are some games like speller, scrabble or spell-o-fun. Play with your child so that his or her vocabulary gets improved.
Respect Books
Teach your child to
respect books. This means motivate him or her to keep the books in place after he finishes reading them. For this you will have to do that first.
Do Not Put Pressure on Your Child
If your child does not feel like reading sometimes do not force him or her.
Give Books as Presents
Present your child a book on special occasions.
Get Library Card for Your Child
Get a library card for your child and encourage him or her to join book clubs.
Teach Your Child About Famous Writers
Let your child find out and you too help him or her learn something about the writer whose book he is reading.
If your child still does not show interest in reading, read with your child. This activity will also help you to spend quality time with your child. Along with improving your child’s vocabulary reading will also help to improve his or her general knowledge. Reading has innumerable benefits so follow the above tips and never stop encouraging your child to read.