How To Make Sure Your Kids Love To Read
Want to know how to help your kids love to read? Here are some clues:
It’s not the school district you live in.
It’s not having a particular teacher.
It’s not being a stay at home parent.
It’s not dependent on the parent’s education.
So many kids hate to read! They are capable and they can read, but they don’t (and many times when they do read, the quality of their books is dismal). However, their ability to become lifetime readers has a direct impact on their future careers and socioeconomic status. Plus, there are so many amazing benefits that can be gained from reading.
You can help your children develop mentally, emotionally, economically, and in a host of other ways by doing one thing. Read to them out loud.
That’s it! Children who are read to consistently, at all ages (don’t stop when your kids get out of grade school!), have a direct and proven advantage that leads to increased interest in the world around them, emotional intelligence, and income and upward mobility through the class structure.
That is why I tell everyone I know about Jim Trelease’s The Read-Aloud Handbook and Sarah MacKenzie’s The Read-Aloud Family. These are life-changing books. And if you invite me to a baby shower, I will give you at least one of them every. single. time.
Buy them. Buy them now. (You could get it from the library, but trust me–you will want your own copy!) Buy a million copies. Give them to everyone you know. Every parent, every teacher, every expectant mother. Anyone who is even thinking of having a baby. Seriously.
Jim and Sarah explain the science of reading, of how it improves peoples’ lives exponentially and how to get kids to do it. They have tons of time tested tips and tricks (including how to use your tv to get kids to read!), that have been used internationally. But the best one: Just read to them.
-Want your kids to score well on standardized tests? Read to them.
-Want them to have empathy? Read to them.
-Want them to have a good imagination? Read to them.
-Want to have a strong family culture? Read to them.
-Want them to have a great income? Read to them.
The list of benefits goes on and on.
“But,” you may ask, “WHAT do I read to them? There are so many dumb children’s books. Does it have to be ‘Captain Underpants’ that is so popular at school?” (I really hate those books.)
I’m so glad you asked! 😉 Because there are so many wonderful children’s books as well, and both books contain lists of well written books. They contain titles and summaries of books for children and adults of all ages. These books are all fabulous picks-you can’t go wrong. And, you don’t need to buy a thing, because your library is sure to have them.
I know I’m gushing, but just get these books and read them already! 🙂 And then you will have the same problem that I do . . . my kids take waaaay too long using the bathroom and they also don’t go to sleep on time because you guessed it–they are reading!
For more book suggestions, check out my book recomendations here.
i love this! I have this on my list and am so glad to have read this post…ordering it now. And a few extras, I love your ideas to share. One of my favorite things to do is make books an all the time thing, but also a treat. If I have a *rare* opportunity to run an errand, I often tag a trip to the library and grab everyone a few books ‘just for them’ and they think it’s so cool to get something for them. They ‘earn’ reading privledges…when they can write their name they can get a library card, when they can read they earn a bed side lamp, etc. One thing we are loving right now, is a i have a super long list of books i want the to read. when they read 5 of these i’ll buy them a book of their choice, or they can pick from my top shelf of books i have already purchased. (i love buying books- used or new..whatever and i am very particular about what we own, not just any random book makes the shelf.) This isreally fun for them because it pushes them to read things outside of the fun and silly and opens them up to my influence. The best was hearing my 9 year old daughter say “this is going to be the first book i read to my kids!!” she loved caddie woodlawn so much. 😉 thanks for the great post!!
I love these ideas! I am also very picky what books we have…that’s a post for another time, but I love the idea of using books as treats, either from the library or as a reward! And I love that it is almost a rite of passage that when they can write their name that they get a library card-genius! It’s so fun to have my kids discover my favorite authors and books. “Summer of the Monkeys” is my favorite read aloud and now my kids love it, too. We love laughing and crying together over it.
Thanks for your ideas!!