Tips for parents on how to instill in children a love of reading

The child develops reading skills in kindergarten and elementary school. However, the love of reading and the habit of reading books throughout life is formed at home. At home, a child spends much more time than at school and this can be the foremost obvious reason why oldsters ought to instill in their kid a love of reading. This question are often approached from another angle. Tips for parents on how to instill in children a love of reading.

Today, many education experts say that teaching reading at school does not help a child to love reading books. In junior classes, the main task is to develop the child's reading technique. The child's success is assessed by reading speed,

Vocabulary and the ability to understand the main idea of ‹‹the read text. It is believed that the child's further success in learning depends on it: if he can read quickly, he will be able to master the learning material in the future. However, no attention is paid to the aesthetic aspect of reading. The fact that books shape human values ‹‹is also left out.

Parents can fill this gap and instill in their children a love of books. Here are some tips on how to do this at home.

1. The child should come first, not the reading process

If you want to get your child interested in reading, start with yourself. Talk to her about what she likes. Find out:

• The interests of the child as a person;
• Her wishes (genres and topics of books she loves);
• Its strengths and weaknesses in reading;
• Her reading habits (when and where she likes to read, what books that motivate her to read, etc.)

2. Develop a plan for teaching your child to read

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• Provide your child with good books that are appropriate for his or her age. Ideally, these should be traditional paper books, but for older children, you can also use reading applications (Kindle, iBook™s, etc.).
• The child should have a place where she can always read a book. When arranging such a place, take into account lighting, background noise, distractions, etc.
• Invite the child to read the book in certain situations (for example, when he is bored). So over time, the child will learn to read to have fun.
• Invite your child to spend time reading each day.
• Teach your child to choose books to read on their own. So it will form the reader's tastes.

3. Make reading books a family activity

• If the child is still young, find books that you can read together. Read with your child or in turn.
• Discuss what you read with your child.
• Allow your child to periodically see how you spend time reading books instead of browsing social networks on the phone.
• Plan a time when all family members put things off and read books. Allow 10 minutes for this activity and then increase the time.
• When a child reads, do not distract her. At this time you can sit next to and read too. This way the child will understand the importance of this lesson. Moreover, a child may love reading even more when he realizes that his parents respect his time and space when reading.
• Tell your child the story of writing books. Explain what events prompted the authors to write the books, how some books were a response to others, that some books were previously banned, and so on.
• Explain to your child how the books you read relate to your interests, thoughts, ideas, and so on.
• Try not to force the child to read. If you still have to do it from time to time, try to move from external to internal motivation. The child should read because he likes it, not because he is forced or rewarded.

For a child to enjoy reading books, he should have a comfortable place for this activity. As a rule, an armchair, sofa or bed in a room where nothing distracts the child is enough for this. When reading becomes a habit, she will be able to read elsewhere. The background noise will not distract her so much

Whether or not you need to spend time reading a book depends on many factors. Of great importance is the extent to which you show your child the example of reading, and whether he follows this example. The main thing is not to try to squeeze reading books into the already tight schedule of the child (when he is engaged in lessons, household chores, is engaged in circles and sections, etc.). Instead, offer your child organic reading opportunities and make it fun for your child.