10 Ways to Promote Reading (Without Badgering Your Child)
Make gathering books an adventure. Go on a mission to the library or a favourite bookstore. Give books as gifts. Help your child to share books s/he loves with friends or their school.
Display books everywhere; on shelves, in bins, on the coffee table.
Build reading time into the daily routine. Look at your schedule and choose a time that works for your child to read independently. Set an alarm, make it happen! This can often work well when a parent is prepping a meal as it is bound to happen every day and is a great time for kids to be busy.
Reserve bedtime to read to your child. There are two main benefits: you’ll know that they’ll hear a story at least once a day and your child will not be overtired when they take the risk to read.
Drop Everything And Read. Your child is likely familiar with D.E.A.R. time at school. Bringing this routine into your home makes reading fun and inclusive and your child gets to see that you love reading too!
Read in front of your child. Newspapers, novels, articles. And if you are reading on your phone, let them know what you are reading and what you think of it.
Pay attention to what books interest your child and try your best not to judge comic books, graphic novels or ones containing potty humour as inferior. Reading is reading and when a child enjoys reading, s/he is more likely to choose to read during his/her free time!
Offer a variety of cultural perspectives and illustrative styles. We all tend to gravitate to books with our own favourite art styles or familiar protagonists. Since people of colour are underrepresented in kid lit, you’ll have to make an effort to have a balanced bookshelf. Stores like Another Story, Parent books and Type make an effort to offer beautiful inclusive selections. Be wary of older books. It is amazing how many picture books from 15+ years ago include racist, sexist and homophobic ideas.
Try to find books at the “just right” level. Ideally, your child will be able to read the book without needing much support. Success will build confidence!
Make reading FUN! Get cozy blankets, flashlights and an abundance of reading material. Read in fun new places: a fort, the park, in a tree, a balcony! The more pleasurable the activity, the more likely it is to become a habit!