Getting a young person to read is not easy. However, the sooner we do it, the better. Of course, the example comes from above, so how to encourage a child to read?
Most children come into contact with reading only at school. There they are obliged to read the prescribed books, which, although they are works of all time and everyone should at least know them, often do not suit the taste of a young person. Thus, the child becomes discouraged and associates reading with an unpleasant and boring duty. How to encourage children to read, so that they reach for books or e-books on their own?
Whether you like it or not, children are good observers. You can make flowery speeches in order to teach your child something, but it is your behaviour that will be crucial. Children learn by imitation. Their reactions, the way they deal with many situations, their habits and even their hobbies can be a mirror image of their parent. Therefore, if you want your child to get into the habit of reading and want to read, read too. The child, seeing you with a book, will convince himself to read, will be curious about what you do. Also, praise the books you read, recommending them to your child. A young person, seeing how much fun you are having, will willingly take advantage of this type of entertainment
>> See also: Passion for children. How to encourage your child to search for passion?
You come back after work tired and you only dream of everyone giving you a break. However, you are a parent and someone at home is waiting for you and at least five minutes spent together. It is worthwhile to read books to children from an early age. This stimulates the imagination, familiarizes with books, shows it as something pleasant that the child associates well, and is also an opportunity to spend time together. Children should be read to as early as when they are babies. It is not true that a child does not understand. They understand a lot and your voice and age-appropriate graphics will support their development. Later on, he or she will start reaching for books on their own and won’t be able to wait to learn to read on their own.
Answer a very important question – do you like being forced to do something? What awakes in you then? Rebellion! It is exactly the same with children. In kindergarten or school they are told what and when to read. This kills the pleasure of reading. So let your child choose. Of course, you cannot skip compulsory reading. But beyond them, find a genre your child will love. Take them to the store and let them choose for themselves the comic book or book they want to read. Even if it’s not a read you would choose yourself, don’t deny your child. He has to read what he feels like reading, after all, you don’t have to have the same taste. Every reading enriches, even if it is a manga about pirates or a comic book about superheroes
Many great books for children and young people have been filmed. A good example is “Harry Potter”, which is already educating the next generation, or Marvel’s “Avengers” series, which until recently was known only to the comic book community. However, film adaptations of manga, books or comic books often differ from the source material. That’s why it’s a good idea to read first and then watch the movie and start a home discussion club. Read together, watch together, and then compare
Probably no one doubts that reading Sienkiewicz’s works in the first grades of elementary school is an exaggeration. The books are outdated as far as reality is concerned, written in a heavy language and have too many descriptions, on which more than one took a nice nap. Readings should be chosen according to the age of a child. At home we have this possibility. Younger children will appreciate colorful pictures and large letters, while older children will appreciate interesting stories, well-written characters and action.
