[AD – Gifted] This post contains gifted item(s).
While some kids may have a natural love for reading, others may find it difficult to pick up a book for a number of reasons, but mostly boredom! This can be caused due to inadequate comprehension skills or because they are unable to concentrate on reading for long periods of time. However, this doesn’t mean that they can’t learn to enjoy it – here are some ways to ignite your child’s passion for reading.
Read out aloud
When starting out, read out aloud to your child to add some excitement to the story. Try using different expressions to match each character and consider taking turns when reading – this will encourage your child to take an interest in how the plot progresses and also allow them to use their imagination to further bring the story to life. Furthermore, research suggests reading out aloud lays the foundations for literacy development and exposes children to vocabulary which may not be part of their everyday speech.
Explore a range of genres
Believe it or not, but not every child enjoys reading fiction books! The good news is that there’s a whole host of literature available to suit every interest and age. Explore comic books, graphic novels and magazines in a topic which interests them – the point is to get them reading. Even a joke book or a collection of brain teasers, such as The Tricky Riddles Book for Smart Kids, can do wonders for confidence in reading comprehension. Also, consider an audio book; it shouldn’t replace a conventional book, but it’s a fantastic way to assist with fluency and decoding skills whilst they follow along with it.
Divulge in a discussion
Children love to voice their opinions, so why not get them to debate about something they’ve read? Consider whether they enjoyed the book or not and delve further into the plot, characters and conclusion. This will allow them to develop their critical thinking skills and improve their articulation through engagement in the discussion. Moreover, they can attempt to write a book review, either on their own terms or by using a handy template, to further understand and examine different aspects of something they have read.
Head to the library
The library is a great resource for your child to discover many new items of literature. The best thing is that it’s absolutely free to borrow books! Many libraries also invite guest authors, hold reading contests and organise book clubs which can further encourage your child to read and allow them to discover other children within their age range with similar interests, making reading a fun social experience. So, if you haven’t already, get your child to your nearest library today.
Igniting your child’s passion for reading doesn’t have to be a difficult task; let them take the lead and follow their interests to make it an enjoyable experience for the both of you. Take it one step further by visiting your local library and be sure to join a book club or partake in any other reading events – just don’t forget to pick up a library card!
