How to to Inspire a Child to Read Books
If you're worried because your child is not interested in books--here are some ways to introduce the excitement and learning that comes from reading.
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Instructions
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Start now. Whatever age your child is now is the perfect time to give him a book. Whether it's a picture book or short stories or poems, doesn't matter as much as your encouragement. Reading is fun at any age. There are exciting books and magazines suitable for all ages and interests.
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Read out loud. Regardless of age, reading out loud to children is the first step in introducing the pleasures of books. Find a book with a story that relates to something your child is interested in. Read a portion of the book out loud every day. Listening to a book read out loud is a soothing and calming way to fall asleep. Get books on CD from the library and let them listen any time. They'll never be bored with a book around.
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Record the sessions. I recorded my reading sessions with my daughter so that she could replay the tapes any time she wanted. She liked to listen to the books on tape before she went to bed or on long car trips. She memorized "Alice in Wonderland" and others just by listening to them over and over. It improved her memory too. She developed a love of literature from this consistent introduction to the classics.
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Take trips to libraries. Academic success is based on reading skills. Being comfortable in a library goes hand in hand with learning. Check out the libraries in your city. Libraries have a wide variety of suitable events for all ages. From story time for toddlers to library tours to classes on how to use the library and computers, a community library is a fabulous resource. Ask the librarian what is available. If your town has more than one library, visit all of them to find out
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Keep fun books around. Check out the list of the best children's books at zenhabits.net (see Resources below). School success is based on reading skills.
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Encourage. Never force. No one likes to be forced to do anything, so don't contaminate reading. The imagination that develops through reading an exciting story is enough to establish a lifetime love of books.
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Make reading part of the day. Whether you're reading a cooking book, a magazine or billboards as you drive by, reading is part of daily life. By using everyday opportunities, you encourage reading. In the case of one 10-year-old boy who was resisting reading at school and consequently dropping behind, his dad encouraged him to read the instructions for putting the shelves together. Not only was it fun for father and son to build the shelves, but the activity increased the child's confidence about reading.
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Listen in the car. Once you've discovered the joy of reading and books, you won't want to be without a story. One mother I know gave the kids books to read along as they listened to the books read aloud on the CD player. She says her kids became proficient readers this way.
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Be a reader. Instill the love of reading by reading and talking about books yourself. If your kids see you reading they will be more likely to follow your example
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