As parents, we all share the same goal. We want our kids to succeed in life. This naturally starts at school, and more precisely, this starts with the love of reading. Books play a special role in a child’s education. They help build vocabulary, which is key to communication. They boost their general comprehension of the world around them. They provide an imaginative escape. Communication, comprehension, imagination, all these are skills you want them to have in adulthood, too.
It goes with you saying, every academic subject also begins with reading. Whether it’s solving problems or writing a compelling essay, the knowledge they need is in books. So, the sooner your child learns to trust and love books, the better it’ll be for them. In fact, reading can boost school performance in general, so it certainly is a win-win situation.
Now, how do you help them fall in love with books?
As parents, we all share the same goal. We want our kids to succeed in life. This naturally starts at school, and more precisely, this starts with the love of reading. Books play a special role in a child’s education. They help build vocabulary, which is key to communication. They boost their general comprehension of the world around them. They provide an imaginative escape. Communication, comprehension, imagination, all these are skills you want them to have in adulthood, too.
It goes with you saying, every academic subject also begins with reading. Whether it’s solving problems or writing a compelling essay, the knowledge they need is in books. So, the sooner your child learns to trust and love books, the better it’ll be for them. In fact, reading can boost school performance in general, so it certainly is a win-win situation.
Now, how do you help them fall in love with books?
Start Early
There’s no secret. Reading to your child from a young age will establish their interest in books.
You can create a bedtime routine when you read to them your favorite fairy tale stories, or anything else that would be suitable for younger children. This simple bedtime routine can already set the stage for a reading habit later. When they start learning how to read, you can reverse roles and let them read to you.
Besides, there’s no reason why you should make reading a before-sleep habit. It could be at any time during the day. It’s not uncommon for parents to start reading to their little ones as a way of bonding and soothing them throughout the day!
Get the Right Books for Their Reading Age
Soon enough, children learn to decipher letters and words. So, they will be keen to read by themselves too. This is where it is important to choose books that are suitable for their reading skills. You, of course, want age-appropriate material, but you also should consider books that are specifically designed for younger readers. This means easy words and phrases that help them build the habit without the frustration!
Teachers frequently recommend books like Decodable readers 1st grade. These are created with first-grade learners in mind, so children can find engaging content at just the right difficulty level. It’s a great way to make reading into an enjoyable habit and train the mind to recognise patterns.
Be the Example
Where does the love of reading really come from? It doesn’t come from books. It doesn’t come from school. It comes from you. The environment a child grows up in plays a significant role in their relationship with books. So, even if they encounter books in their school life, if you don’t have books at home, they will naturally associate reading with schoolwork.
Parents who read are more likely to have children who love reading. Why? Because they are constantly showing their love for books in front of their children. If there is one thing we know it’s that love is contagious, and this also includes the things you love doing. The more they see you enjoying books, the more likely they are to want to follow your lead.
Besides, you can even share the same book and talk about it. Did you know that some families even run their own little book club where they either pick a theme for book reading or all read the same book and share their opinions. It could be a fun family activity when you child gets old enough to read a variety of books safely.
Make It Easy To Access Books
There’s no denying that making reading enjoyable is one thing. But making reading accessible is another. Your child could love reading but not have access to enough books to satisfy their curiosity. While this doesn’t negate their love of reading, it will also keep their reading skills underdeveloped. So, you want to make it easy for them to access books.
Admittedly, with thousands of books coming out every year, it can become an expensive hobby. But signing up for the local library is free and could truly resolve the issue for them. You can reserve book purchases for special occasions, such as birthdays, Christmas or even Independent Bookstore Day. This could be a great compromise if budget gets a little tight (which can happen when your TBR list is ever-growing!).
Besides, you can also look into used books, such as sharing books with neighbors or friends who have children of the same age. There’s no need to only read brand new books.
Let Them Choose What They Like
For younger kids, the choice is easy. There are a lot of great classics for children, such as Dr Seuss or even Roald Dahl’s books. But as children start to grow older and reach the young adult age group (13-18 or 13-25, depending on books), they will be able to access a vast range of books. YA books are extremely diverse and they cover many genres, including horror, romance, crime, fantasy, mangas, etc. As kids grow into teens, it’s important to give them the freedom to explore what they love. While it’s tempting to guide them toward books you think are “good for them,” the key to developing a lifelong reader is letting them choose what excites them.
There is another reason why this is particularly important for young adult readers. During this period, the brain is going through a crucial development phase, which will help them establish their identity and core values. You want to let them grow into the person they truly want to be without influencing them.
New Books vs. Your Childhood Favorites
What if they don’t like the same books as you did? The truth is that it doesn’t matter. Some books are classic reads and will be enjoyed by every new generation of readers. Others may have had their moment and could be dying out, such as the Harry Potter series, which was a hit when it came out but has now somehow failed to attract new readers. Times change, and so do the stories that resonate with young readers.
Platforms like BookTok and Bookstagram are great ways to stay in the loop on what’s trending. These communities regularly spotlight books that kids are actually excited about, titles they’ll talk about with friends or bring to school book clubs.
Are you ready to bring the love of reading into your home?
