As many of you know, I have an avid bookworm. A bibliophile
who loves getting a new book. The anticipation of the exciting new adventure
awaiting me inside its pages. March is National Reading Awareness Month. A time
to celebrate and encourage children’s interest in reading, writing and
literacy. It’s aims to focus on improvement of reading skills as well as
helping make reading a daily habit. It was founded in part to celebrate the
birthday of Dr Seuss aka Theodore Geisel (March 2, 1904-September 24, 1991).
Here is a list of suggestion on how you can encourage reading this month and
every day!
1. Read Aloud
Reading aloud for 15 minutes a day helps build language
development, instills a love of reading, gains knowledge and literacy skills,
helps brain development and builds parent-child bonding. It doesn’t have to be
15 minutes in one sitting. It can be spread throughout the day.
2. Need something to
read?
You don’t need to read a bunch of children’s books. You can
read anything: a recipe as your child helps you with dinner, a product label at
the grocery story, reading the menu at a restaurant, etc.
3. Take Turns
As your child gets older, you can read a book to them and
then let them read to you.
4. Choose your
material well
Make sure the stories are appropriate for your child’s age
and maturity. Some children may not be able to handle a story’s sad ending
while others can.
5. Check out your
local library
Most libraries will allow children to receive their own
library card. Going to the library and allowing children to browse the shelf
and pick several titles to take home and read will help encourage a love of
reading. Also, if you have a eBook reader or app like the Kindle, some
libraries offer eBook available for check out. They are easily downloaded to
your reader and when the book is due; the book will be removed from your
reader. No taking a trip to drop off a book and no forgetting to turn it in and
accruing late fees.
6. Reading isn’t just
for bedtime
Read aloud anytime of the day. While reading a book at
bedtime is a time-honored tradition, you can change things up a bit. Read a
book on a Saturday morning after breakfast or have time set aside in the
afternoon for a story. I remember growing up and spending summer days at a
neighbor’s house where we would read a story, usually a fairy tale, before
going out to swim. It is a beloved memory I have and remember the stories
fondly.
7. Let your child see
you read
As the saying goes, “Monkey see, monkey do,” show your child
that books are important to you and they will become important to them. My
seven-year-old daughter wants to write book reviews like I do for this blog.
She sees the time I carve out to read a book, to write down my thought and then
write me review. Even if she doesn’t start her own book reviews, she sees that
books are important in my life and she is willing to make them an important
part of hers.
8. Place books
everywhere
Have access to books everywhere in your house and car so
when the opportunity arises to read, your child can read.
9. Introduce your
child to your favorite childhood books
Dr. Seuss books are a classic favorite among many parents.
Other favorites are the Winnie the Pooh stories by AA Milne, Charlotte’s Web and other books by E.B,
the Harry Potter series and many more.
10. Consider
audiobooks for times when reading may not be feasible
Traveling is the best opportunity for audiobooks when taking
physical books is too difficult. An audiobook can be easily played in a cd
player or a smartphone or tablet with apps like Audible (Amazon) and Google
Play Books.
In conclusion, reading doesn’t have to be expensive or time
consuming. Reading is a skill which will take a child far in life. Reading
opens your world to new ideas, the depths and complexities of history and
experience worlds long gone or far away. Reading also can be a great stress
reliever and entertaining just like a movie or tv show. Reading isn’t just for
nerds. Reading isn’t just for learning. Reading is for everyone and everything.
Take an extra step this National Reading Awareness Month and instill a love of
reading to a child in your life and encourage reading every day of the year.
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