Reading is a fundamental part of your child's education, and children who learn to read from an early age are generally more successful in academic areas. But how can you fuel your child's interest in this enriching hobby?

By helping a child develop a reading habit, you can instil in him a love of books that will last him a lifetime, and which will bring him wonder, joy and knowledge.

Also, when parents engage in quality time reading together with a child, that child will feel special and cherished. However, reading to your children can do more than simply help them excel at school.

A good time to start reading to your child is when he is old enough to sit with you and listen to you read. The average age for this is three years.

Having said that, even infants can benefit from being read to – they love to hear their parent's voices, and will embrace reading as part of their daily routines if read to regularly.

Tips For Preschoolers
Even if they cannot yet read on their own, toddlers and preschoolers can get a headstart
on the road to reading if you provide some assistance and motivation.

Here are a few tried-and-tested techniques to help get you started:

Before reading a book to your child, read it through once yourself to identify areas you might want to concentrate on.

Point at each word with your finger as you read, and encourage your child to follow along. Even before your child can read, they can be highly stimulated by the pictures they see in books.

A child's attention span tends to be rather short, so choose simple books with plenty of colourful pictures.

If you are concerned about little hands tearing and smudging books, buy sturdy toddler board books that can withstand some 'abuse'.

Parents who show that that they enjoy and benefit from reading will set good examples to their children.

Children are constantly imitating adults, so if you make reading out to be a fun and enjoyable activity, it is likely that your child will as well.

Make reading a treat instead of a chore! Don't just read to your child at bedtime - read to him throughout the day or whenever time allows.

Show enthusiasm and excitement, and vary your reading tone to give characters different voices. Make your own puppets out of household items to use when reading.

Involve your child in the reading process. Let him turn the pages of the book, and give him adequate time to look at the pictures and ask questions.

If your child has developed an adequate level of reading comprehension, ask him simple questions about the story after each reading session.

Most children will have 'favourites'. Read your child's favourite books often, and make them available to your child at all times by placing them on a shelf within easy reach. This allows your child to look at his favourites whenever he desires.

All children have an innate desire to communicate. Write simple notes and letters to your child, and encourage him to do the same to you.

For children who have yet to master reading and writing, simply let them 'read' you their mental notes, and then read your notes to them.

Visit to your local library regularly, and engage the help of the children's librarian to assist your child in choosing books that are appropriate for his age group.

When he is old enough, obtain a library card for your child. This will help him acquire a sense of responsibility alongside an interest of reading.

Tips For School-Aged Children

As your child matures, look for books on subjects relevant to his growing experiences and increasing knowledge.

The most important thing to do is support your child's interests. Choose books on topics that he is attracted to, but at the same time, make efforts to introduce new subjects.

Your child's reading level will advance as he moves along the academic path, so encourage him to read to you, instead of you always
reading to him.

Help him with words he finds difficult to pronounce, and explain the meanings behind words that he has yet learned to understand.

Role-playing the characters of a story really serves to bring the story alive, so do engage in role-playing sessions.

You can even put up a mini-play that involves other family members, and put on a show for friends and relatives when they visit.

Your child should now understand that reading can serve different purposes. Point out the differences between reading for pleasure and reading for information, so that your child can begin to adopt different reading techniques to suit his needs.

Put up a book review board in your home, where each member of the family writes down thoughts and opinions about the book he or she is currently reading.

This gives your children an opportunity to share their enjoyment of their favourite books with others.

Give your child rewards and presents in the form of books. This will increase your child's appreciation for books, and help him to positively associate books with delightful occasions.

A trip to a bookstore to select and buy a new book makes a wonderful treat for a child.

By making reading fun, and keeping your child's reading experiences positive, you can nurture a child to grow into an avid reader, and one who views reading as an enjoyable pastime.