Reading is a journey into worlds where fantasies come to life, it develops imagination, enriches vocabulary and helps to understand complex emotions and situations. But how to instill in a child this love for books filled with stories? How to make reading a joy, not a duty?
Do not put pressure on the child
When it comes to books, pressure is the main enemy. Many of us remember how we tried to avoid the school reading lists for the summer! Adolescents are especially sensitive to coercion. Instead of insistently reminding that reading is important, leave the child and let him take his own step towards books. Let the child take the initiative himself! Let him understand on his own that books are a pleasure, and not another obligation invented by adults.
Keep the books in plain sight
Have you noticed that books are most often hidden in closed cabinets? Please give books a chance to get noticed! Put them on a shelf, lay them out on the tables – let the books cease to be a faceless part of the interior, start paying attention to them. But do not put books on the child on purpose - such persistence is repulsive. It is better to give the opportunity to choose the moment to get acquainted with a new story.
Lead by example
Your attitude to reading is a signal that children can easily read. Think about it, how often do you pick up books yourself? To set an example is not to tell that once in your school years you read the entire home library, but to sincerely enjoy the process of reading here and now. Our children mirror our behavior on an unconscious level, which is why personal example is so important and so contagious. So let it be positive!
Picture book
In the modern world, the most difficult thing is to tear a child away from a gadget, black and white books lose to bright cartoons and games. But you're still capable of tricking your brain into demanding vivid pictures! Go to a bookstore – touch, look, smell, in the end, the books and choose the one you liked. Colorful drawings, comics, graphic novels - all this attracts and retains attention, helps to better understand the plot and characters. Give your child a book with bright illustrations, or better yet, read it yourself: you will be surprised to know that colorful books are created not only for kids.
Try different formats
Do you think books are only paper? Audiobooks and podcasts can be an unexpected discovery for you and your child! Load an audiobook or play on a long car ride and listen with the whole family instead of the radio – you'll be surprised how this can add a lot of fun to the hours-long journey.
Your child absorbs a lot of information from the outside - posts on social networks, videos. But you can change the quality of the information he perceives: find an interesting podcast about science or a literary blog, listen to it with your child and discuss it. Believe me, this can forever change your child's tastes in choosing information!
Tell a personal story
Tell us about the first time your mother took you to the library as a child, or share your memories of books that inspired you when you were younger, how the adventures of Thomas Sawyer or Harry Potter influenced you. Don't try to force books, just share how those moments excited you, how you stayed up at night and waited for the release of a new series of books. Do not compare the child with yourself, just tell him your story - the main thing is without morals. Sometimes an ordinary story can become that very inspiring example.
Create an atmosphere for reading
Reading is a process that can become magical if you create the right atmosphere. A cozy armchair, a soft blanket, fragrant candles and a small delicious snack can turn time with a book into an event. Make reading part of family traditions by creating cozy rituals with your child.
The role of parents in introducing reading
To read or not to read is a personal choice of each person, but it is in your power to create comfortable conditions for reading. By showing your own love for literature, you lay the foundation for your child's interest in it. Your every gesture and word affects how he perceives the book - as a boring activity or an exciting adventure.
Help your child find "his" book – the very story that will become his friend. Sometimes just one plot can turn the whole picture of the world upside down. Be there to offer options, ask questions, and head to the bookstore or library together. Even one book can cause a storm of emotions and be the beginning of a long book journey.
By supporting the child's initiatives and helping to create comfortable conditions, you open up the boundless world of literature to him. Encourage interest and wait patiently – the love of reading is sure to show up if the time comes.
