10 Ways To Encourage Reading

This week is Right To Read week at my children’s school, which made me think about the state of reading in this country (again!). Sadly, reading seems to be on the decline. In fact, according to a study called To Read or Not to Read, the number of 17-year-olds who say they never read for pleasure has doubled in the past twenty years!

This fact does not surprise me. Not only are kids scheduled to the max, but they are constantly plugged in. Whether it is a computer, a video game, a cell phone, or an iPod, they are so busy with technology and activities that the thought of reading for pleasure seems archaic to them. But remember, good reading habits start at home while they are young. If you’re wondering how you can help get your kids interested in reading, here are ten ways to start:

1. Read Out Loud. Read stories, poems or articles from magazines and newspapers out loud with your kids—even the Sunday comics. In honor of Right to Read week, we have decided to read C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe together as a family each night instead of watching TV.

2. Visit The Library. Make sure your kids have regular trips to the library and plenty of time to find books and other material that interests them. Get them a library card of their very own. This makes reading “special” to a child.

3. Stock Up. The more books, magazines and other reading material you keep around the house, the more likely your children are to pick up the habit. (And studies have shown that more books mean greater achievement in several subjects on standardized tests.) But before you worry about how much creating your home library will cost you, check out library book sales, consignment stores, Goodwill and garage sales. And, remember that the library lends all kinds of materials for free – So if you can’t build a library, keep a regular stash of library books and magazines on hand.

4. Tune In. Planning a family vacation this year? Pick out an audiobook to listen to with your kids in the car. It’s much better than watching DVDs the entire trip.

5. Give The Gift Of Reading. Purchase inexpensive books from Scholastic and give them as gifts for a job well done at school, to celebrate the summer vacation and so on. Many teachers send the order forms home monthly. Or, instead of cards, give your children each a book for Valentine’s Day that tells them how much you love them (Guess How Much I Love You is a popular choice). And, Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go is a popular replacement for graduation cards, whether it is a graduation from preschool or a graduation from high school.

6. Allow Some Freedom. Give your kids the freedom to choose materials that interest them and speak to their interests and hobbies. For instance, if your child likes super heroes help him pick out books about super heroes in the library. Or, if your child likes Ramona books by Beverly Cleary, help her look for other books by the same author. Remember, kids may sometimes read material in school that does not interest them —let them pick up something light or fun to keep them interested in reading.

7. Share Experiences. Talk to your kids about what you read and ask them to talk about what they’re reading with you. Talking about what you have read makes it meaningful and provides a bonding moment for you and your children.

8. Be A Good Example. Make sure your kids know you set aside time to read every day and that you visit the library often. You’re a role model to your kids. If they see that reading is important to you, they’ll make it important to them.

9. Participate In Reading Programs. Aside from the library's summer reading program, I am fond of Barnes and Noble’s summer reading program. Get the details at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/.

10. Remember: Reading Is Fun. Reading is an engaging experience that can be both relaxing and informative. If your kids see you enjoying reading, they’ll realize that reading it is an activity worth pursuing.