Ways to Support Young Readers

25 Ways to Support Young Readers

It’s difficult to promote reading  in a world that is distracted by electronics.

Children are having a harder time now trying to connect with books than we had when Atari was first introduced.

We don’t need statics to tell us that reading a book everyday will help to prepare your child for college and life long learning.  Kids that read grow up to be students that achieve.  There are many ways you can support your child’s love of reading.

Here are 25 Ways to Support Young Readers:

  1. Limit screen time to weekends only.  This includes all glowing devices, televisions, and computers unless completing homework.
  2. Turn on Closed Captioning on all the T.V.s at home.  When they are watching they will also instinctively be reading.
  3. Post index cards around the house with words your child are not familiar with.  Include the definition and parts of speech for older children.
  4. Create a reading nook or quiet space in your home for children to take in a book.  All you need is a few books, pillow, and light.
  5. Subscribe your child to children’s magazine like Highlights or family safe publications like National Geographic.  Here is great place to find children’s magazines.
  6. Play board games with your child that requires reading or spelling skills.  Scrabble, Monopoly, Clue, to name a few.
  7. Let your children read the cereal box while they are eating breakfast.  Almost every box have something fun for kids to read on it.
  8. Have your child create grocery list on the refrigerator using a dry erase marker.  It can get messy but it’s easy to wipe off.
  9. Kids love helping in the kitchen, have them read off a recipe while you’re preparing a meal.  Even better, have them prepare a meal from a recipe.
  10. Print lyrics to their favorite songs so they can sing along.
  11. Make them write Thank You cards for gifts they receive.  Every kid that knows how to writes should have a set of Thank You cards or stationary.
  12. Keep in touch with friends during long breaks by writing and mailing letters.
  13. The funny pages or Sunday’s comics are a fun way to practice reading aloud.  Have your kids read their favorite cartoon from Sunday’s paper to you.
  14. Take frequent trips to the library or book store and attend Story Time. Set playdates and meet ups at the library or local book store.  Check out 5 Ways to Get Your Kid Hooked on Books here.
  15. Take a break from long bedtime stories by reading poetry to your child.  Shel Silverstein has poetry book collections worth sharing.
  16. Audio books are a great way to sneak in a story.  Play an audio CD on the way to school, during dinner, or at bedtime after a long day and have your kid read along with the story.
  17. Reward your kids with books.  If they get good grades or have a successful week at school, reward them by purchasing their favorite book.
  18. Set their bedtime 30 minutes early each night and tell them they can stay up late as long as they are reading.  Or if your child has a hard time falling to sleep at night, let them stay up late reading.
  19. Purchase book lights for your kids.  They are inexpensive and kids love reading in the dark or under the covers.
  20. Swap out the books at home often.  Kids get bored very easily so refresh their shelves with a different selection of books as often as possible
  21. Take books on vacation with you or check out the libraries at your vacation destination.  Most major cities have a library and welcome out of town visitors.
  22. Get them books on subjects they’ve recently discovered or will experience.  Books about ocean life is perfect before or after a trip to the aquarium.
  23. Take home maps or brochures from places you visit with your child.  Have them retell their experience with the help of these items.
  24. Have other family members engage your child with books.  Invite your guest to read aloud to your children.  Skype or FaceTime  family members and have them read a story to your child.
  25. Volunteer to read aloud at your child’s school as often as possible.

Bonus: *Pre-writers.  Create personal journals with your children. Have them tell you about their day while you write it down in a journal. Make sure they are close by or sitting on your lap as you are writing. Read the journal entry aloud to them.

Do you have suggestions or tips on how to support young readers? We would love to hear from you!

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