Top Tips for encouraging Children to READ!

This weeks blog ‘Top Tips for encouraging children to read’, is inspired by my own experiences as a lifelong reader and mum.

Every Child is different!

The key challenges in encouraging your child to read are;

Starting with the appropriate reading band for them and there age group.
Finding books that match their existing interests i.e. fascination for dinosaurs, a love for a particular sport. An interest in numbers, a craft or hobby?
Choosing the correct length of book- enough to engage but not too long that they loose interest.
Finding an author they love! All of my children loved reading Michael MorPurgo books (UK Childrens Laureate 2003-2005).
Fun interactive reading experiences like the Bookbug. Children’s reading sessions with mum & dad at your local library.
Discovering a place they enjoy visiting, a weekly routine they look forward to! Visiting local library or Book shop i.e. my wee local library Newmains Library with lovely helpful and friendly staff. Or Glo a fabulous Christian Bookshop in Motherwell with a fabulous children’s section.

Motivation!

Parents know that everyone of their children are different. And each child depending on their interests and personalities may be an early or late starter to books. One strategy which I used and work brilliantly with one of my children. Was the summer book reading challenge delivered by our local North Lanarkshire Council NLC Libraries.

How the Challenge Worked

The Goal: Children aimed to read 6 books over the summer holidays.
Participation: Kids signed up at their local North Lanarkshire library to get a progress card.
Rewards: Stickers and prizes were handed out after every two books read, with medals and certificates awarded upon completion.
Bonus Challenge: Avid readers who finished early could take part in extra fun activities, like reading a book by torchlight, outside, or out loud to a family member

My deviation to this was that I offered a reward! £1 for every book they read (a reasonable length book). My two children who are very sports orientated weren’t interested at all! They just wanted to spend their summer outdoors. But my other child embraced the challenge. To this day I maintain that this was instrumental in her confidence in reading, studying & grasping languages. And an improved articulation, along with a wider reach of vocabulary.

Alternative modern strategies!

As a late starter to reading it took me until my late teens to discover books that I enjoyed. For me the genre was self-help and personal development books that inspired my love for reading. This year due to work commitments I discovered audio books and within 3 months I listened to over 60 hours just on my daily driving commute. For young children our primary goal is to get them excited about going to the library or bookshop and the excitement of taking a book home.

As a strategy for moving children away from technology and enticing them to read I created ‘Granny Burns Story Time‘ our storytelling channel on YouTube. Everyone of our books can be read along with Granny Burns and encourages parents and grand parents to purchase our books that we read on the channel.

My last tips for reading!

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