You might have noticed that priorities have shifted in this time of COVID-19 and education is no exception. People have shorter attention spans, it seems. They prefer to watch TikTok and scroll through Instagram. When it comes to books, they either read a summary or listen to an audiobook. It is not surprising that children are more screen-oriented than ever since parents are role models for their kids. It’s not surprising that kids use the internet to find out answers to questions like “Is essaypro legit?” or “How to buy LEGOs cheaply?” Installing a love of reading can be a real challenge that requires effort and patience on your part. You cannot force your child to read but you can guide them towards a love of reading.
Start early
A baby may not understand what you are reading about, but reading to your child is a bonding experience. Children start expanding their vocabulary when they are about one-year-old, despite an active attention span of about four minutes. In a year, your child may perceive separate words and phrases as a narrative. When they are three years old, they become an active interlocutor. It is the age when children develop a passion for rereading and re-watching everything they like.
Follow reading rituals
When your kid is older, you can try different reading ideas. For example, have one parent take a certain book and read it aloud solely to your child, so mom can’t take the book that dad is usually reading, and vice versa. As your kid grows up, choose books together that you can discuss. You can help with their homework as well. For older students who might need sample essays for inspiration, check out proessaywriting.com review. Edubirdie is another resource for writing papers.
Make reading your family tradition
Designate a room for reading with certain times of the day where everyone can read together, either individually or one person reads aloud. Make it a cozy time with special snacks and a book that appeals to a wide range of ages. My kids remember that one summer when I sought out the best picture books that I could find using various book lists and resources. I would check out 30 to 50 picture books a week and we would read 8 or 10 books a night. Picture books appealed to my three children despite their range of ages. We made some great discoveries of picture books that we all still cherish!
Allow your kid to choose a book
I did the legwork to find the best picture books, but we all would discuss each book afterward and rate it as “good,” “great,” or “not-so-good.” I would then be charged with finding more “great” picture books. This range of books helped my kids decide what books they liked. I would also let them choose what to read out of the pile of books that I bought home.
Each of my kids as they grew older, gravitated towards a different genre. My oldest daughter liked fantasy action-adventure like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. My middle daughter liked dystopian worlds and realistic fiction of kids in difficult situations. My son loved graphic novels (still does!), nonfiction fact books like the ones from National Geographic Kids, and Percy Jackson!
Whether you take your kids to a library or a bookstore, be sure to show them around different genres of books both in and out of their comfort zone.
Discuss books you have read
You can start a “family book club” by simply discussing and rating the books that you read together. It can simply be like our quest for the best picture books of seeking and rating the books that you read together. Or, family members can give their review of the books that are reading and who they recommend it to.
Present books as a solution to life’s problems
Books are a window into other people’s lives and can help develop empathy in a child. My kids’ had a book club with their friends where some of the books featured true life stories of overcoming hardship. Often, we could find a charity related to their story that we could support. Connecting reading with the real world also gives kids a sense that they can change the world. And that’s great because they can!
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My books:
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
