Ten Tips to Get Your Child Reading

By Belinda J. Mooney

There is nothing more wonderful than opening up the world of books to a child. But getting some children to read can be difficult. Video games, TV and other electronic age toys entice kids away from reading. Here are ten tips for getting your child into the world of books.

Kids love being read aloud to. Cuddling up on the couch with a good book is a wonderful way to spend time with your child. Even older children like to be read to, especially while they are involved in other hands-on type activities.

Make a reading corner in your house. Fix up a cozy corner with beanbag chairs, or a large overstuffed pillow, a small bookcase. You won't have to look far when they get quiet to find them.

Leave books lying around. Place books in the bathroom, on their nightstands, in the living room and even in the kitchen. When they are bored they will pick them up out of curiosity.

Get them their own library card. Children love having their own library cards and checking out books they choose, on their own.

Visit the library often. Schedule a regular library day, and just let them sit and read for a while in the library. Take advantage of your local library's programs, such as story times, to help capture a child's interest in books.

Drop tantalizing hints about a book. Start reading one yourself that your children might like and "share" some tempting tidbits. When they want to know what happens  - say , "Oh you will have to read it for yourself, you won't believe it!"

Extend the book. Add fun activities that go beyond a book. When reading Heidi, look for the countries on a map, eat Swiss cheese for lunch or make some soft rolls for grandmother.

Watch a video about a book. Then say, "I wonder how close that was to the book? Maybe we should read that."

Let them make their own books. Younger children especially love this. Something as simple as plain paper stapled together becomes a timeless treasure when they write their own stories. Let younger children tell you the story and you write it out and they illustrate it.

Read yourself. Children imitate what we do. If they see you enjoying a good book often, chances are they will too.

Belinda J. Mooney is a freelance writer living in Montana. She is a homeschool mom of seven. You can visit her website at www.learningtreasures.com.