Reading is an invaluable pastime that has been enjoyed for hundreds of generations. Each generation has always passed down knowledge by teaching through books.
However, getting your child to read in a digital age is not always smooth sailing. It can be very challenging to get your child to enjoy reading. We are all wired differently, and if reading doesn’t come naturally to a child, they may not enjoy it as much as you might have. With this in mind, let’s take a look at 5 tips to help your child enjoy reading.
1. Join the Local Library
Joining your local library and getting plugged into what your community is doing with books is a great way for your child to really learn to start to enjoy reading.
If they have their very own library card, they’ll be able to sign out their very own books to read. Start by letting them choose their books from the library, so they can be in charge of what they’re reading.
2. Try a Reading Improvement App
If you’re really struggling to keep your child engaged in reading, and you’re not quite sure what direction to take, you can always get some virtual assistance through a reading improvement app.
Reading improvement apps can help your child enjoy reading because they highlight where they’ve made mistakes, and teach your child how to read, without making it feel like a chore. Sometimes, you just need a little bit of a helping hand.
There are many online resources that can help you with this. Take the time to find what works best for you.
3. Make it a Good Experience
Reading doesn’t have to be a chore. You don’t want to make this something that your child needs to get done before they eat their lunch or go out to play.
Instead, try to make reading an experience that they enjoy, and look forward to doing. You can try finding somewhere in the house where you and your child can sit together and get snuggly, so that your child is comfortable and in a safe environment that promotes fun learning.
4. Read Their Favorites More Than Once
When your child stumbles across a story that they love, don’t be afraid to let them read it as many times as they’d like. While you may be tempted to try and get them to move onto something else, at the end of the day, they all learn to read at their own pace.
If your child has a favorite book, reading it over and over again could help them get better at reading – and enjoy it at the same time.
5. Use Repetition and Rhyme
Dr. Seuss was onto something – rhyme and repetition go a long way in helping children learn how to read. It’s a great way for them to commit the words to memory, and learn new ones that sound similar to the ones they’ve already learned.
Reading with your child and teaching them how to is supposed to be a fun and enjoyable experience, but it’s not always going to be like this. Be persistent and patient while implementing these helpful tips and tricks. If you do, you’ll be well on your way to making it a part of the day that they really look forward to.
For more great parenting tips, check out the other blogs on Cyber Parent.