Reading In A Digital Age

Photo Credit: Rifka Schonfeld

1. Create the right environment. Just like people cannot learn to cook without the ingredients, so too children cannot learn to read without books. Surround your children with books both in the home and outside of it. A study done in Australia showed that children who have more than thirty books of their own were more likely to enjoy reading than those who had few books. If you can’t afford to buy a lot of books, check out second-hand and used books stores.
2. Be a role model. If you want your children to speak respectfully to others, you teach them by example. The same goes for reading. If you want to teach your children to read, spend time reading yourself. Let them see you enjoying your time with books. You are a role model for them in everything you do – reading included.

It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the books your children are reading. Additionally, set aside a designated time for reading in your household – maybe getting into bed a half hour early to curl up with a book.

1. 3.      Read to them.  Everybody loves a story. Even older children enjoy being read to – with dramatic pauses and cliffhangers. The more you read to them, the more they will enjoy reading themselves.
2. 4.      Redefine book. Many parents define books as short stories or novels; however, the benefits of reading come from sustained reading. Therefore, as Karen Powers points out, the Guinness Book of World Records, a seemingly simple non-fiction book, can be a great way to get boys reading for lengthily periods of time. This, in turn, helps them become reflective about their reading, which develops critical thinking skills.
3. 5.      Don’t be a book snob. There might be books that you feel are low-level or less important. In reality, though, reading low-level books that your children enjoy might help them fall in love with reading, which will make it more likely for them to pick up a classic.
4. 6.      Ask an expert. When you have a medical problem, you see a doctor. If you have a problem with your car, you see a mechanic. And, if you have a problem with reading, it’s best to get advice on books. People who read and deal with books – teachers, librarians and bookshop owners – are the best to ask for suggestions of books that your children will love.
5. 7.      Make reading routine. We have so many routines in our lives – brushing our teeth morning and night, and washing our hands before we eat. Why not include a reading routine as well? When we make reading part of our daily or weekly schedule, we teach our children to pick up a book without even thinking about it.