In today’s world, with technology taking up a significant chunk of our children’s leisure time, it’s more important than ever to instill a love for reading at an early age. While most parents know that reading is essential for their children’s development and later academic success, it’s not always clear how to get them interested in this activity. Here are some steps parents can take to help their child become a lifelong reader.
Start early
Starting a reading routine early primes children’s brains for reading and develops vocabulary. Studies have shown that children who are read to from birth tend to develop more advanced language skills and grow up loving books more than kids who were not read to regularly throughout their early childhood. There’s no reason why parents shouldn’t start reading to kids from day one.
Online language classes provide a fantastic opportunity to start early language learning in children. These virtual classes offer a convenient and flexible way for children to engage in language learning from the comfort of their own homes. With qualified instructors and interactive platforms, online language classes create an immersive and interactive learning environment. Children can actively participate in speaking, listening, reading, and writing activities, fostering their language acquisition skills. The classes are often designed to be engaging and age-appropriate, utilizing multimedia resources, games, and interactive exercises to make the learning process enjoyable. By starting early with online language classes, children can develop a strong foundation in their target language, setting them on a path toward advanced language proficiency.
To further enhance and cultivate advanced language skills in children, it is essential to expose them to a wide range of diverse reading materials. While starting a reading routine early is crucial, introducing varied content can deepen their language development.
Add reading time to your daily routine.
Bedtime stories are a great way to help your child associate reading with relaxation. Make sure to read to your child every night before bed. But don’t stop there! Try to find time during the day to read together as well. You can set a goal to read a new story every day or every week, depending on your schedule.
Select picture books over leveled readers.
Picture books tend to do a better job of holding kids’ attention than books without pictures. This can be especially important for struggling or reluctant readers, who may find leveled readers tedious or boring. Try these 20 wonderful picture books to see how well it works.
Get your child interested in reading with technology.
Opening up a fresh book is awesome. Maybe you like that “new book” aroma, or the way the paper feels as you turn the pages. Nevertheless, don’t knock eBooks or apps that allow your child to read and listen to stories on a screen. Audio books are another way for your child to engage with their books and can even help if your child is having trouble reading. Try using coloring pages or worksheets such as these 1st grade reading worksheets to spice up storytelling.
Preview books and make predictions throughout
Before reading, ask your child to notice the pictures on the front cover of the book. Look for details, such as the characters, colors, the background, letters, and so on. Talk about how dark colors might make the picture look frightening or spooky, while bright colors may make the cover look joyful and inviting. As you read, stop to ask your child to summarize what you’ve already read, and encourage them to make predictions about what might happen next.
Don’t stop reading with your child once they learn to read
There is growing evidence that reading to your child aloud has lasting impacts on a child’s development. Aside from the shared bonding time, kids can benefit from listening to advanced vocabulary, sentence structure, and correct pronunciation. Continue to read to your child, even after they have learned to read on their own.
Encourage the love for reading in your family
Demonstrate to your child how much your family values reading by setting a good example. You can do this by showing them that you also enjoy reading, whether it be the latest news, a good book or a favorite magazine. Reading can bring many benefits to your life, so it’s important to let your child see how much you appreciate it. Children learn more from actions than from words, so your behavior can have a significant impact on their attitude towards reading.
By following these steps, parents can help their kids develop early literacy skills and build vocabulary. Remember that kids who enjoy reading are more likely to be successful in school, so it’s important to cultivate a love for reading in our children from an early age.