Wouldn't it be wonderful if kids did what we wanted them to do? Brush their teeth, clean up after themselves? Just make life easy? Well, they don't. They have their own opinions and wants, and their own likes and dislikes. And we wouldn't really want that to change, because as parents we love that they are their own little people! We want them to grow and discover themselves. So how do you get a child who would rather play on a device, or run all around the house to sit down and read a book? How do you motivate them to want to learn to read?
Here are two very easy ways you can interest them in books
First, make it a routine part of your day to read books together. This is so simple and obvious that it almost goes without saying. But with all you have to do each day to provide for them and keep them, and the house, moderately clean (not to mention the car), just adding a little reading time can sometimes seem like too much. Our family found that bedtime was perfect for us. After a bath, when the kids felt like having a little sleepy cuddle, I would tell them they could each choose a book and grab a favorite stuffed animal to read with. Then we'd sit together for 10-15 minutes reading 1-3 books before bedtime kisses and tuck-in time. It helped them to settle down and put their minds on pleasant things and hopefully better sleep and dreams. So simple yet so powerful. In our family this became such an important part of our day that it continued into their preteen years with chapter books, too.
Second, let your kids' interests and likes lead the way. What is your child's favorite animal? Favorite color, food, place, game? What are they most interested in? Whatever that is, you can find a book about that subject or thing. This part may take a little more research, or you can just go to the library and let them do the “research” by finding books that interest them. This form of interest-based learning has been used by educating parents to great effect. If tigers are your child's passion, read books to them about tigers until they discover a new passion to add to their tiger books. This way, the interest your child has in tigers will lead them to understand that books open a world of learning. In no time at all you'll find your tiger-lover has become a reading-lover, too. And it won't feel like you put much effort into that at all.
That's the power of positive parenting.
Happy Reading with your Kids!