Parents play a large role in their children’s lives. Children tend to love what their parents love, which gives parents an advantage when trying to instill a love of reading in their children. How can parents foster their children’s love of reading? Some readers shared their perspectives on the matter. Keep reading to find out what they had to say.
Creating a Supportive Environment
It is essential for parents to create a supportive environment for their children to read. This includes providing access to books, both physical and digital, and creating a comfortable space for them to read in.
Parents can also engage in activities such as book clubs or attending literary events with their children to further encourage their love for reading.
Create a Safe Space
Children need a safe space where reading is modeled and mistakes are allowed to happen. What’s more, parents should help children realize that mistakes are bound to happen, and serve as learning tools, not situations to be avoided.
In said safe space, the parent should set an example by reading themselves, then invite children to read with them. This can look like doing reading homework together, or the very common nighttime ritual of a bedtime story reading.
Model Reading
Children learn by example, and when they see their parents engaged in reading, they understand that reading is a valuable and enjoyable activity. Parents who model reading, whether for leisure, information, or personal growth, send a powerful message about the importance of reading in life. This modeling shows children that reading is not just a skill to be mastered but a habit to be embraced and a hobby that enriches one’s life.
Incorporate Books into the Daily Routine
Parents can incorporate books into their child’s routine from the day they are born, introducing new sounds, words, and meaning through written text.
In years to come, children who are read to will be equipped to better communicate with vaster vocabularies, they will be able to decipher challenging words as they begin to read due to their increased phonemic awareness, and they will be more successful as readers themselves.
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