Demonstrate the importance of reading to your child
People read for many reasons, from gaining information to enjoying a great story. Show your child how important reading is in everyday life. You can:
Explain to your child how you read for information. Say, “I’m trying to figure out how to use a new computer program for work. This article explains how it works.”
Read for a purpose. Do you take the bus in the morning? Show your child how you read the bus schedule to decide when to leave the house. Are you looking for a new recipe for dinner? Demonstrate how you search online or through cookbooks.
Read for pleasure. Let your child see you reading just to relax. Mention that reading isn’t just for school or work.
Share something you’re reading. If you see an interesting news article, read some of it aloud. Print or cut out an article you think your child will enjoy and pass it along. Your child will see that reading is something that is fun to share.
Take your child with you when you go to the library. Show how rewarding it can be to browse titles and discover a great book.
Bring something to read with you everywhere you go. Your child will see that reading is a constructive way to pass the time.
Reprinted with permission from the November 2024 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2024 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.