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As parents, we understand the importance of encouraging our children to fall in love with reading from an early age. But to a child with plenty of distractions to fill their time, reading may not always be a priority for them. Fortunately, teaching your child to read need not be a challenging experience. When reading becomes an enjoyable part of everyday life, your child will develop a positive attitude towards it. Let us share how you can encourage your child to develop a love for reading.
Tip #1: Foster a positive reading environment
The environment shapes your child’s learning experience. A positive learning environment enables them to feel comfortable and secure in the learning process and provides them with the confidence and motivation to succeed. This logic also applies to helping your child develop a love for reading.
A conducive and relaxing environment stuffed with your child’s favourite books can make reading more appealing. It does not have to be fancy, either! All you require is a cosy reading nook with comfortable seating, adequate lighting, and a selection of age-appropriate books.
You can take this a step further by encouraging your child to participate in reading programmes or attend a storytime session at the local library to expose your child to different books. Who knows? They might discover their new favourite genre. And never neglect to praise your child when they do a good job. Encouraging their efforts helps them feel more secure and motivated to continue learning.
Learn More: 3 Tips to Setting Up a Home Library for Your Child
Tip #2: Read to your child for at least 30 minutes daily
Do not underestimate the importance of creating a routine and establishing reading as an enjoyable experience. It helps to choose books that interest your child so that they remain engaged throughout the session. Consider reading the story aloud with enthusiasm and expression, and make it fun by incorporating various voices and sound effects to make the story more interesting.
Reading aloud to your child is not only about keeping them engaged with the story and encouraging them to use their imagination. It also helps them learn to pronounce new words, understand storytelling structures, and develop comprehension skills. Subsequently, they become more confident readers, which is essential for future educational success.
Tip #3: Dig deeper into the story by asking questions
When reading aloud to your child, avoid regurgitating the entire story to them. Instead, try livening up your reading sessions by asking your child questions about the story. For example, at The Eton Academy, we love asking the children attending our reading programme about their thoughts and opinions about a particular book.
Questions like, “What is the character feeling right now?” or “What do you think will happen next?” can help your child better understand the story and foster their critical thinking skills. Additionally, they develop empathy as they get to experience and understand the emotions of the various characters in the book.
Tip #4: Be a good role model to your child
Setting a good example for your children is essential. Make it a habit to read before bedtime or during family reading time. When your child sees you enjoying a book, it will encourage them to do the same.
Another way to encourage your child to read is to make books of interest available to them in an accessible place. Remember, everyone has their preferences. Some children prefer non-fiction. Meanwhile, others love fantasy. So visit your local library and let your child decide the books they wish to borrow. While you are there, you can sign your child up for the reading programmes offered by the National Library Board.
Helping your child develop a love for reading can be incredibly rewarding. Nevertheless, it is vital to remember that every child learns differently, and there is no one-size-fits-all learning strategy that suits all children. So avoid giving up if things are not progressing smoothly initially. With dedication, patience, and practice, your child will soon be on their way to becoming a proficient reader.
Our Young Readers reading programme can nurture your child’s reading skills and help your child grasp the basics of reading through interactive manipulatives, activities, and phonics readers. We also offer English enrichment classes in Singapore for children aged 4 to 12.