When I first became a mom, I figured that my kids would not become picky eaters if I exposed them to all sorts of flavors and regularly fed them a wide variety of foods when they were little. Sadly, I was mistaken. I think this same sort of thing is true when it comes to loving books. Some kids love reading from the get-go, while others never develop a love for reading, regardless of what their parents do. However, I believe there are a great number of kids who fall in between these two groups. These kids will not come to love reading on their own but will develop a love for reading if it is fostered.
From the very beginning, I’ve been intentional about exposing my kids to books and encouraging them to read (I wrote about this previously). This has paid off in spades. They read constantly and are reaping the benefits of being well read. Hopefully some of these approaches will help in fostering your child’s love for reading.
Fostering a love of reading in your kids
Keep books here, there, and everywhere
We keep books in the bedrooms, in the living room, in the playroom, in the van, in the diaper bag, etc. If books are always within reach, then it makes it easy for reading to become the default activity when one is looking for a way to stay entertained for a few minutes.
Read aloud to young kids (and older kids)
In my opinion, reading aloud to young kids should be a daily activity. Whether it’s a set time (at bedtime, for example) or spontaneous episodes during play, reading brings books to life. While listening to stories, our kids can visit past eras and distant lands, go on adventures, and learn new concepts. They discover that reading is both fun and informative. This is true for little kids, of course, but there is no age limit—many older kids and teens also enjoy and benefit from read-alouds.
Read everything
I know a few parents who eschew graphic novels and pop fiction books because they want their kids to read classics. In many of these families, the kids aren’t fans of reading, so this is a particularly hard sell. In my opinion, it’s also a mistake. When it comes to literary forms, I take a both/and approach. If the content is suitable and it gets kids reading, I’m in favor of it. This is especially important for reluctant and struggling readers. These kids are often more willing to read graphic novels (such as Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea or InvestiGators) or hi-lo (high-interest, low-reading-level) books such as the Mount Olympus Mysteries series. I’d much rather kids read these books than read nothing at all!
Make time to read
With school, sports, and other extracurricular activities, many of today’s kids have full schedules. When they have free time, the action-packed screens on TVs, tablets, and handheld game consoles may seem more interesting than books. Having free time during which screens are not being used is a helpful way to encourage kids to pick up books and explore what they have to offer.
Regularly visit the library
Going to the library, browsing the aisles of books, and having the opportunity to pick some for themselves can help get kids excited about reading. You can help them look up and find books about topics that interest them (dinosaurs, cryptids, mythology, etc.) and they can browse aimlessly, hoping to come across books that catch their interest. Additionally, libraries offer lots of activities (story times, summer reading programs, clubs, etc.) where kids can meet and socialize with other kids who love reading.
Give audiobooks a try
Because audiobooks take a lot of the “work” out of reading and provide entertainment during monotonous tasks (completing chores, driving on a road trip, etc.), they may be helpful in engaging reluctant readers. They are also great for getting the whole family engaged in a book because everyone can listen at once. While it is important for kids to be able to read and read well, I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to audiobooks when they’d be helpful.
Utilize Wonderbooks and VOX Books
Wonderbooks (by Playaway) and VOX Books are just like regular books, except they have small plastic audio players attached to their front covers. These players play audio of the books as kids read them. These are great for kids who are learning to read and for those times when a kid asks mom to read to him or her, but mom is busy trying to get dinner on the table.
As far as I know, these two book formats are sold exclusively to libraries and schools, so you must check them out from a library. However, there are some similar options available to the public. These include the Me Reader by PI Kids. Each Me Reader is a small, push-button module that reads aloud a set of 8 illustrated books. Me Readers are available for books about numerous topics including Paw Patrol, Disney Princesses, Thomas and Friends, and the World of Eric Carle.
Set a good example
Modeling being a reader is a simple way to show your kids that you value reading. Seeing how much their parents enjoy it can pique kids’ interest in the activity.
Give books as gifts
Books are always among the gifts we give (and encourage family members to give) our kids at Christmas and for birthdays. We still give things like toys and art supplies, but my kids already have lots of these, so holidays are great opportunities to build up our home library. Subscriptions to magazines that encourage reading (Highlights, for example) also make good gifts. Another fun option, especially as kids get older, is to give them gift cards for a local bookstore. We did this last Christmas, and my older two loved browsing the shelves and selecting books for themselves.
Watch your language
I firmly believe the way parents frame reading impacts their kids’ interest in it. If you treat reading as a low-pressure activity and talk about it as being fun and interesting, then kids will likely be interested in it. On the other hand, if you treat reading as an obligatory chore or a punishment, then kids will be less likely to pick up books and read. Likewise, constantly quizzing children about comprehension can really take the enjoyment out of it.
Final thoughts
At some point you might wonder if it really matters whether kids like reading. There’s not room here to get into this, but the benefits of reading for fun—not just reading because they are forced to for school—are numerous and span several dimensions (academic, social, psychological, etc.). The strategies listed above are easy to implement, yet the dividends our kids earn over life are numerous and substantial.
What have you experienced with your kids? What things foster their love for reading?
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