How To Make Your Child Love Books

Some of my readers
probably know that I am a total bookworm.

Which means I give
books as gifts. I could probably be a virtual children’s book agency because I
have collected tons of children’s books!

I am quite aware
though that not a lot of kids love books. 
I have been to my children’s school Christmas parties and I have seen
how dejected a child would look like as he opens his gift – a book (which most
probably came from my child lol) – and look enviously at another child who got
a walking robot or a Nerf or a PS4 (Nope, they don’t give that as exchange
gifts in grade school, but my son did wish he will get one.  See, he did not ask for a book!  He didn’t ask Santa either!)

You can make your
children love books, though.  I have a
daughter who never ceased to include books in her Christmas list since she
turned four and can write to Santa (She is also the daughter who would log
those hard-bound Harry Potter books to school when she was seven and waited for
her owl to come when she turned eleven).

Every year, there is
the one special book that would steal the hearts and minds of all children and
teens.  Harry Potter captured the
imagination of countless children and adults. 
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid paved the way for my little boy to start
bugging me about getting him the book as well. 
The Fault In Our Stars started Daughter 2 into a John Green book buying
frenzy.  I also buy Filipino books like “Diary
ng Panget” and “Bakit ‘Di Ka Crush ng Crush Mo” which are a rage among Filipino
teens.

Children are so wired
up these days.  Make it a rule for them
to unwire for even just thirty minutes every night before going to bed.  Let the older ones grab books they would love
to read (believe me, once they get that perfect book, they would never put that
book down).  Read to your younger
one.  Or you can let him read to
you!  I sometimes ask my son to read to
me when I am tired.  He would look at the
pictures and come up with amazing tales! 
This special reading / bonding times will foster reading love!

Set up a comfortable
reading space.  This will remind your
children that even if you have a busy home, there is always a space where they
can hang out and read a book.

Some kids love
action.  Why don’t you turn reading time
into stage performances?  Make funny
voices to suite book characters.  You can
also ask them to dress up for the part.