Last Updated on April 13, 2017 by Marie Bautista
Have you ever wondered if you could teach your child
something right now that would improve her listening and speaking skills, kindle her imagination and even help her find
a good job with a bigger salary when she grows up? Guess what? Yes, you can!
You can teach your child to love to read.
something right now that would improve her listening and speaking skills, kindle her imagination and even help her find
a good job with a bigger salary when she grows up? Guess what? Yes, you can!
You can teach your child to love to read.
It has been a known fact that you, as a parent, have a
tremendous influence over your child’s attitude toward reading. Sure, we love it when our child begins to
read. But not every child who learns how
to read becomes a reader- a person who loves and enjoys reading.
tremendous influence over your child’s attitude toward reading. Sure, we love it when our child begins to
read. But not every child who learns how
to read becomes a reader- a person who loves and enjoys reading.
My first child, Paula, was an early reader. She was reading at four and would read
anything she saw on sight. And I do mean anything. She was carrying hard-bound Harry Potter books
to school at age seven and believed so much in the wizard magic that she waited
for her owl to arrive when she turned eleven. Today, at sixteen, she still
reads a lot. I have checked her 2012
reading challenge stats and found out
she has read 41 books out of her goal of 60 books. Sure, she is such a regular teener obsessed
with music and gadgets and makeup and clothes, but buying and reading books
(yep, she buys the real ones while the mom, that’s me, is fine with the
e-books) are one of her top priorities.
anything she saw on sight. And I do mean anything. She was carrying hard-bound Harry Potter books
to school at age seven and believed so much in the wizard magic that she waited
for her owl to arrive when she turned eleven. Today, at sixteen, she still
reads a lot. I have checked her 2012
reading challenge stats and found out
she has read 41 books out of her goal of 60 books. Sure, she is such a regular teener obsessed
with music and gadgets and makeup and clothes, but buying and reading books
(yep, she buys the real ones while the mom, that’s me, is fine with the
e-books) are one of her top priorities.
To raise a child
who loves to read, you, as a parent, need to stimulate and encourage your child’s
reading attitude from preschool onwards. Here’s how:
who loves to read, you, as a parent, need to stimulate and encourage your child’s
reading attitude from preschool onwards. Here’s how:
Be a reading role model
Let your child
see you reading books, magazines and newspapers. Busy mom as you are, show her that you still
make time to read. Say, “Check this out!”
and read aloud an excerpt or little trivia that is interesting, funny or full
of information that is new to you.
see you reading books, magazines and newspapers. Busy mom as you are, show her that you still
make time to read. Say, “Check this out!”
and read aloud an excerpt or little trivia that is interesting, funny or full
of information that is new to you.
Make sure there’s plenty to read
I always buy
children’s books at Book Sale. For my
e-books (and books that are difficult to find in local bookstores), I get them over at Amazon
and Kobo.
Our bookshelves are stuffed with books and I also have a stack of
magazines and the dailies on the coffee table.
Stow a book or a magazine in the
car and in your bag, too (I actually have my Kindle with me the way others have
their cell phones with them) and encourage your child to do the same. That way, whenever and wherever you’re
waiting, you can read. Believe me, the waiting game at doctor’s appointments
will be much bearable if you have your book with you!
children’s books at Book Sale. For my
e-books (and books that are difficult to find in local bookstores), I get them over at Amazon
and Kobo. Our bookshelves are stuffed with books and I also have a stack of
magazines and the dailies on the coffee table.
Stow a book or a magazine in the
car and in your bag, too (I actually have my Kindle with me the way others have
their cell phones with them) and encourage your child to do the same. That way, whenever and wherever you’re
waiting, you can read. Believe me, the waiting game at doctor’s appointments
will be much bearable if you have your book with you!
Limit screen time
Television and
computer games tend to dampen a child’s imagination and stifle intelligent and
meaningful conversation. Instead, play
board games like Twister which my girls and my boy have a lot of fun with, make
puzzles, role-play, and make time to read each day.
computer games tend to dampen a child’s imagination and stifle intelligent and
meaningful conversation. Instead, play
board games like Twister which my girls and my boy have a lot of fun with, make
puzzles, role-play, and make time to read each day.
Talk as you read
Read aloud to
your child. As you read to her, say
things like, “What do you think will happen next?” A child who talks about what
she is reading with her parent makes her understand better what she is
reading. As you child grows, try reading the same books
that she is reading. This explains why I
had to go through reading the Twilight saga (which I had to buy at Amazon in
2009 because of the infamous Philippines book blockade wherein there were no
books entering the country because Customs started taxing supposedly
non-taxable items) and Hunger Games,
plus juvenile series like Percy Jackson, The Kane Chronicles and The 39
Clues. Discuss characters, scenes and
settings-not in a way that makes her feel like she is being quizzed if she
really understood the book, but in a way
that says, “I found this fascinating, how about you?”
your child. As you read to her, say
things like, “What do you think will happen next?” A child who talks about what
she is reading with her parent makes her understand better what she is
reading. As you child grows, try reading the same books
that she is reading. This explains why I
had to go through reading the Twilight saga (which I had to buy at Amazon in
2009 because of the infamous Philippines book blockade wherein there were no
books entering the country because Customs started taxing supposedly
non-taxable items) and Hunger Games,
plus juvenile series like Percy Jackson, The Kane Chronicles and The 39
Clues. Discuss characters, scenes and
settings-not in a way that makes her feel like she is being quizzed if she
really understood the book, but in a way
that says, “I found this fascinating, how about you?”
Try not to be judgmental
Encourage any
and all reading. Your goal isn’t that
your child read the most difficult books.
Your goal is that she loves to read.
and all reading. Your goal isn’t that
your child read the most difficult books.
Your goal is that she loves to read.
How I wish I could teach my kiddos to love reading and achieve what you did to your child. Honestly, I personally don't read a lot but I'll give it a try for my kids. Thanks for sharing!
If I am too tired, I ask my seven year old to read to me!
My eldest nephew loves to read! He was exposed to it when he was younger and they encouraged him further by bringing him to the bookstore often. My blog is still the same. I asked someone to help me and hopefully it gets resolved soon.
Yup, sis, I always check your blog, even its whois and almost one month na, right? Hopefully it will be resolved soon…
You have a teenager already! I salute you for rearing your teen well that she is a habitual reader in this age of technology ,gadget and vanity. Kudos to you!
Such a lovely post. My parents made me love reading, I totally owe them my passion. It's true that you need to be a reader for your kids to learn to be one!
No one really taught me to love reading. I guess it was ingrained in me. My dad and lola (his mom) were avid readers but I only found that out when I was much older.
I sure wish I could influence my nephews to read a lot. I tried but you can only get them to read if it's done Manga style. I actually bought them 3 Manga books of Bible stories. It's hard to push them into reading when there are no pictures. Whatever happened to imagination? hehehe
my kids also loves to read, i believe that what the kids see with their parents they get a feel for it
I love reading ever since I was a kid. Not really sure if my kids would share this passion for reading with me. My 4-year old son prefers watching TV. 🙁
I hope my son will learn how to read early.
Great tips! I am very thankful that my parents are both readers and they raised us to be so as well. When I have my own kids, I'll refer to your tips as well 🙂
In the first place, I wanted my children to read books, novels, magazines, but in vain. They wanted computer games, movies, and other visuals….yakkks..okay fine!
I super agree to this especially the last part – I don't know, it really means a lot when parents are not judgmental. Believe it or not being judgmental could cause psychological effects as they grow old so these things are so important – great tips here!
I have to be honest, i dont see my son loves to scan his books, but would love to be told, i just hope in time he will be able to love to read, although in an early stage of 3 he can read 3-5 letters in a sentence.
It's nice to have the kids started reading early.
People who love to read books/newspapers are great conversationalist. For sure your kid will grow up as an intelligent person. ^_^
Whenever my kids ask for certain books, I never hesitates to get it for them because I'd rather buy books than toys.