Reading with Kids

This week's article from our guest Dr. Rick talks about the importance of Reading with your kids. I also find that kids like reading with a Kindle, Book Nook, or some other form of technology.

A Dozen Ways to Keep Reading with Kids
by rbavaria

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the importance of parents’ being involved in their children’s learning . I referred to a recent study that confirmed what we parents and teachers already know – that kids do better when we’re actively involved in their learning, when we read with them, when we show a lively interest in their school activities, and when we talk with them daily about interesting topics.

Parents matter.

And parents who encourage reading matter most. It’s the fundamental skill, remember?

We’ve discussed reading many, many times in the Dr. Rick Blog. (Type “reading” in the search field at the right and you’ll find past blog postings.) Now’s as good a time as any, as the new year gets underway, to reinforce our commitment to reading with our kids.

So, here are twelve reminders of ways to encourage our kids to keep up their reading. Few things we do for our kids are as valuable.

1. Remember, it’s our job. It’s our job as parents and teachers to get our kids interested in reading early. Before they even go to school. Kids who come to school from homes where reading is valued and encouraged, where adults read to kids, where books and magazines are present, and where conversation is free and relaxed arrive with a tremendous leg up over kids who don’t.

2. Make the library a special place. Kids love going to the library. The more they go, the more grown-up they feel, especially if they have their own library cards. Give them some guidance, but also give them plenty of opportunity to make their own choices.

3. Go online for ideas. There are lots of websites for kids’ book choices. ReadKiddoRead is excellent. Oprah Winfrey is, unsurprisingly and beneficially in the act with her Kids Reading List – Oprah. And Book Adventure is a veteran, happily motivating kids to read for over a decade.

4. D.E.A.R. Drop Everything and Read is a national reading motivation program that encourages exactly what its name says. I’ve seen it in action in schools all over the U.S. When kids are cheered on to read what they find interesting, they respond.

5. Be a role model. Show kids that reading is an important part of your life, too. Let them see you reading often. For information, for directions to do something, or for the pure enjoyment.

6. Support reading. When your school or local library has a children’s reading activity, show your support. Let the folks at school know that you’re a reading advocate and that you expect your kids to be doing lots of interesting, informative, and fun reading.

7. Read aloud. Kids love to have you read to them . They also love to show off their reading skills by reading for you. Take advantage of their enthusiasm.

8. Do seasonal reading. Read about favorite sports during their seasons. Read about religious holidays at their proper times. Read about historical events during anniversaries. Read about popular, new movie releases at their premieres. Don’t forget about summer reading when school’s out.

9. Reward reading. Have reasonable and easy rewards for meeting reading goals. Finished the first chapter book? The long brain stretcher? The fourth book by a favorite author? Go out for a special treat, just the two of you, without siblings. Make it a special time.

10. Read as a family. It’s so easy to schedule family reading night. Take a half-hour – or longer if you want – and everyone brings a favorite book. Read favorite parts aloud. Serve chocolate chip cookies. Enjoy one another’s company.

11. Tell about your favorites. Spend some time telling kids about your favorite childhood books. You’ll be surprised at how interested they’ll be. They may even want to see what those Hardy Boys are up to if you make it compelling enough.

12. Read the book. Watch the movie. Few things make kids feel more “superior” than comparing and contrasting a movie to the book it’s based upon. “That’s not the way it was in the book!” Let them explain the differences, talk about why a director made those changes, and then talk about which version they preferred.

It’s really not difficult to instill a love of reading and, therefore, learning if we start early enough, if we’re good role models, and if we support lots of reading choices. Kids will amaze themselves at how much they discover about the world and about themselves. And they’ll find their school reading (and other language arts like writing, speaking, and listening) becoming stronger, too.

Everyone wins!