There are many things we need to help teach our children, but one of the most important will undoubtedly be how to read often. Now, check that sentence again. I did not say how to read. Of course every child needs to learn how to read, this is very important and will be the building blocks of years of reading to come. But the practice of reading often is something different and just as hard. And it’s something that in this day and age is less and less popular.
If you think about all the various things we consume each and everyday as adults, triple that for your children. At least half the media thrown our way is already in print format and some sort of reading has to be done to consume the material. However, for younger kids who maybe have not learned to read yet or are just learning, most of the content given to them is in the form of online media, pictures, video games, etc.
Even for older children who already have the ability, choosing to read a book over playing a video game or scrolling through their phone is not any kind of Catch 22. The visual media format will always win.
Look at online learning at the moment. Schools are pushing for online learning but everything is done using a video format with links substituted in for in person lessons and activities. Everything today is visual and if you don’t acclimate you’ll be sure to be left behind. Adults this can be in your jobs, and for children it’s with their friends.
But where does this leave reading?
*Where Does Reading Start?
If you want your kids to excel in life, having a strong reading background is necessary. Okay maybe not in sports…But! The ability to be literate is a common necessity. Even more so the passion for reading, meaning not only doing it when you have to read a negotiation, or doctor’s report, or news article, is almost non-existent among adults and children.
However, you can turn that around. Reading is a taught habit like anything else. It may take a little more focus but none the less if practiced, success in reading will come. And I don’t only mean being able to read. I mean wanting to read rather than watching tv, wanting to read rather than checking your phone or computer. It’s the habits we create as youngster and continue to practice that will follow us into adult hood. So help your youngster create them!
In addition, this is the opportune time to try and start any new habit. It doesn’t matter what it is. Most people are still at home with their families, so this the perfect time to practice positive reading habits.
Or! If you think you’ll be doing homeschooling in the fall, then its quite necessary to start these habits ASAP. Believe me, one upside of school is that there are no TVs available for hours during the day. If you add that temptation in such as it is if you’re going to be homeschooling, reading will take a back seat for sure.
So let’s see how we can help formulate some strong beneficial reading practices.
*Strategies for Getting Your Kids to Read
1. create a daily routine that includes a reading period
So the first thing that will help you immensely is to have a daily routine for your child. This is actually super beneficial for adults and kids alike. It plans out your day, helps you know what to expect, gets rid of unnecessary surprises and anxieties, and is overall just a good rule of thumb to have.
But first things first, create that daily routine if you haven’t already.
Now the next thing is to make sure that there is a period scheduled for reading in that daily routine. That way it’s something that your child knows is part of their day, will expect that it is to happen every day, and should put up much less of a fuss with it once it’s common practice.
In the post linked as a resource above for creating your child’s daily routine, there are periods for learning and story time. Either or both of these can be allocated to reading periods. You should definitely check that post :).
But remember, the only way for something to become a habit or routine is for it to happen consistently. So make one of their daily periods a reading period. This will help the habit form, et voila you’re little one is already on their way to forming a positive reading mentality.
2. use the “if, then” contingency
The next thing I would utilize, and to be honest my parents did this with me all the time as I was growing up, is using the if-then contingency. Obviously that’s not what my parents called it or any parent for that matter but I can promise every mom or dad uses this strategy daily.
It’s very simple… “If you do____, then you get _____”.
Now this strategy is already a little different because it implies that you are somewhat bargaining with your child for them to receive something greater that feeds their need later one. And what we want is for them to want to read. But hold on, hear me out.
While you are trying to help them continue with their daily habit of reading let’s say 20mins per day, you need to start with this first. Then the more they practice, the less you will actually need to use this prompt and the less negotiating it will require. However, for some families you may need this little verbal trick to get the gears moving every now and then.
So for example, “if you do your 20mins of reading, then you can go outside and play”. (This was mine growing up)
You can make it even less of a negotiation on your part because lets be real, no one should really be negotiating with a child (it gives them all the power I promise, don’t do it), by making the hard fast rule “you need to do your 20mins of reading first and then you can go and play”. By forming your prompt in this manner, it removes the word “if”, which is what provides the ambiguity kids loooooove to prey on. Take out the “if”, put in the “you need” and less questions asked!
But again, consistency is key. You need to be consistent with a standard period of time they need to read, and what they get to do after. And this needs to happen daily or at least Monday through Friday for it to become part of their daily routine.
3. provide fun material!
Alright, so the practice is getting formed but for your kids to really begin loving reading besides doing it out of habit is making sure they have awesome and exciting reading material. This starts at a very young age. Even when they’re too young to read independently and you’re reading to them make sure the stories are inviting and the illustrations are exciting. When they’re older make sure their libraries are filled. Rotate the titles and keep new and fresh books in there for them to look at.
The one main thing TV and Media have over books is that it’s ever changing. There is always something new to stimulate the minds. So you need to do the same with books. One fun thing I got to do every Sunday as a child is go to the bookstore with my family. Some families had movie night, or pizza night, we had Sunday trips to the bookstore. And I loved it!
It was so much fun to take a trip somewhere and look at something new I was going to be able to take home. And at this point we didn’t need to be told to read anymore, we just read. And the thrill of getting a new book was one of my favorite family activities. This might be something you want to try with your family. It keeps a somewhat calm hobby exciting.
Another idea would be to do some trips to the library!! Libraries are wondrous places especially for a small child. It gets a bad rap once you’re in high school but if you can give it a fun and positive spin when your child is younger, hopefully they can carry that on with them as they get older. Wall to wall shelves of books, endless aisles of stories, reading circles for little ones, it can be quite the fun excursion for younger children.
*Bonus Tip: Model Positive Reading Behavior
The last bonus tip I would like to provide is more of a reminder than anything. The type of behavior you model for your child is quite important. Children are like sponges and they will copy a lot of the behaviors they see especially during their early formative years.
So if you’re trying to get them to mold positive reading habits then it’s important that you model the behavior you are trying to teach them. Read with them as much as possible. Do story times together and if they’re too old for story times then talk about the latest things they’re reading and talk about what you’re reading. And most importantly, make sure they see you reading independently as well. You don’t want their reading times to be solely focused on when you both can read together. It’s about them learning to do it independently so make sure they see you reading independently too.
Lastly, I know that a lot of reading gets done on the phone. I read on the phone as well. But children don’t have phones, or shouldn’t for purposes outside of emergency use. They read books. So when you’re modeling this behavior for them, have something tangible such as a book or newspaper that they can comprehend a little easier, rather than you telling them you’re reading while on your phone. That can be a little harder to believe.
*Summary
There you have it parents. My top tips on not only getting your kids to read more but to truly enjoy it. It starts with learned habits in the formative years that gets built upon and built upon. Remember, the strategies discussed above will only help if they remain consistent. Consistency is key. And above all, teach them to love reading by showing them how much you love reading. It is then that they will begin to show a passion for it.
And as always, If you have any questions, comments, or ideas please share them in the comments section below with your fellow parents! And definitely subscribe to the newsletter for updates and ongoing happenings at TylekTeaches.com. The subscription link is just at the bottom of this post.
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