Reading
has always been a very important skill to instill
in children. This is because much success awaits
the successful reader. Thus, if you want your child
to be as successful as he or she should be, then
you should instill in your child a love for reading
books.
You
have to understand that the very basic foundation
of education lies in reading skills.
If
your child does not enjoy reading books, then how
else can he or she get accustomed to reading books
that would surely come with schooling? Thus, early
on, it would be so much better for you, as a parent,
to encourage your child to read books. You would
not want your child to struggle when he or she encounters
the different subjects in school now, would you?
The
job of a parent is never easy. It demands a lot
of time, effort, and patience on your part. And
when you see your child struggling with something,
it becomes doubly hard for you. Since you are the
adult here, and you surely know better, you have
to take it upon yourself to build an environment
that is conducive for studying. This way, your child
will be better prepared for the rigors of schooling.
And there is no better way to do this than to encourage
your child to read books at an early age.
Now,
this does not really come easy, however easy it
may seem to you, being an adult who already knows
how to read. Mastering reading and phonics can be
very struggling for any child, so do not feel frustrated
or incompetent if you have difficulties inculcating
this skill as well. As much as possible, focus on
the matter at hand, and do not give in to any insecurity
that might come popping from all directions. Just
stay calm, stay patient, and remember the following
parenting tips.
1) Read
to your child.
It does not really matter what his or her age may
be. Just read to your child before bedtime. Of course,
your reading material would differ with age. Bedtime
stories are good for babies and preschoolers. As
your child grows though, you can change these to
story books and even poetry. You can schedule your
reading activities according to the age of your
child. If you are not too sure what particular reading
material would be appropriate for your child, then
you can ask preschool teachers. They surely have
the experience that can greatly help you. You can
also schedule an hour or two of reading for the
whole family.
2 )
Be interactive.
Every now and then, ask your child questions about
the material you are reading together. This helps
you determine if your child did understand the context
of the material. Ask your child if he or she can
relate the material to certain people or things.
Perhaps your child knows someone from school who
is experiencing what the main character is going
through right now? You should ask your child to
predict how the story would go as well. Do not share
your own predictions just yet, so that your child
can think on his or her own. Ask your child why
he or she predicts the outcome that way.
3) Use
computer programs and educational toys that foster
reading.
Just make sure that they do instill a love for reading,
so that they would not make your child feel like
he or she is doing some chores. More importantly,
they have to be enjoyable.
4)
Set a good example.
Children learn faster by example. Thus, you also
have to set a good example for your child. You also
have to do a lot of reading of your own.
A good
book is way more educational than the cartoon shows
we see on television these days. So, turn the tube
off and pick up a good book, and your child will
certainly follow your example.
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