10 tips to motivate children to read

Jumbo Editorial Team

It’s an acknowledged fact that the children who read at home are generally much more successful in school, than those who do not. The easiest way to raise a child's grades, self-esteem, and reading level is to read with them. The extra benefit is that whenever you spend quality time with a child, that child feels special and well loved.

There are quite a few ways to nurture a child's love of reading like:

1-Reading daily with your children.

2-Joining a library if possible.

3-Subscribing to at least one children’s magazine. Let your child choose the magazine, if possible. Children, who are allowed to develop their own reading tastes, read more than children, who are forced to read what others want them to read.

4-Writing some letters to your child. Have your child write letters to you. Leave notes around the house. This works for pre-readers and pre-writers, as well. You just have them "read" you their notes and you read your notes to them.

5-Pointing out ways that reading is a part of daily life. Make reading relevant to your child. If he or she likes to cook, discuss how reading recipes helps make you a better cook. If he or she likes sports, then talk about reading the sports page.

6-Teaching your child the different purposes that reading serves. Differentiate between reading for pleasure and reading for information so that your child learns different reading techniques.

7-Rewarding your child for reading. Gift your kid the book that you loved as a child and read it together.

8-Teaching your child about the different kinds of books in the market. Try to ensure that your child knows the different book genres.

9-Writing a family book. Add to it on a monthly or yearly basis. Take it out and read it together on New Year's Eve.

10-Reading poetry. There are many great children's poets out there. Poetry for children tends to be funny, engaging, and fairly easy to read. Read it aloud. Enjoy it. Encourage your child to read it aloud.