Five Ways to Make Reading With Your Kid More FUN
Breaking Down the Who, What, When, Where, HOW
Do you or your kids dread the requisite minutes of shared reading time the school wants you to do each night? Here are some ideas to make it a time you all look forward to.
You already know why you should read to your children.
You want your child to have all the benefits reading with them provides. Right? If you need a reminder what those benefits are, ask Google why it’s important to read to your child. More than 2 BILLION hits in less than a second. So, you don’t need another article telling you that you should read to your kids. But sometimes reading with your child feels like more of a chore than a rewarding, relationship-building time.
Here are a few ideas to make it more fun.
What I’ve discovered as a parent and an elementary school librarian, is that creating the right feel during your shared reading time should be the guiding force behind what you read, who reads it, when you read and where, and how to make it more rewarding than frustrating.
Your goal is to produce a strong sense of well-being in your children during shared reading time. Your children will enjoy reading more if they associate reading with the warm, cozy feeling of cuddling with someone they love. They’ll gain that sense of comfort and security as they receive your attention in a more positive way. You’ll cherish that time, too, if it’s not a battle.
1. Who makes a difference.
No substitute for your presence. Sending your child off to their room to read because it’s time to get their reading minutes done will not encourage them to love to read (unless they already do). It’s more like asking them to take out the trash. Spending this time with you is the essential component.
Let’s be honest. Not every parent likes to read out loud. If the thought of reading aloud to your child makes you break out in a cold sweat remembering nightmarish moments from a childhood experience reading in class: try an audiobook app instead. Explore the free options available for read-along ebooks through your local library or school. You can still curl up with your children, enjoying the story together while a professional reads it. The endorphins will flow, because you won’t be as stressed.
2. What you read matters.
If you constantly make them read something they hate, they are going to hate reading.
Give kids a good story with characters they can relate to, sympathize with, or laugh with, in a plot that captures their attention.
There seems to be a pervasive trend in children’s literature today to publish books that preach the themes of our political world/climate, hoping our kids will grow up knowing what we wish the adults of the world understood. Guess what. Kids don’t like books that preach. Self-help books are an acquired taste, and I have yet to meet a child under ten who’s acquired it. And politically-inspired propaganda, while sometimes self-affirming for parents, does not induce a love of reading in a child.
Knowing what was going on in the family life of one of my students, I once suggested a book about a character whose parents were going through a divorce. “No thanks,” she said, after she read the blurb on the book jacket. “This is my mom’s second divorce. I already know all about it. I want something fun to read.”
I’m not saying children’s literature doesn’t contain valuable life lessons. There are multitudes of ideas/events in children’s literature to use as great discussion starters. For instance, there are lots of lessons in Dr. Seuss books. But the zany vocabulary and characters, and the artistic use of language makes them entertaining and fun to read. That’s what made Dr. Seuss books revolutionary in the world of children’s literature.
Refer back to the story, and discuss those ideas AFTER story time. Leave the lesson for later. During reading time, focus on enjoying the story.
Unfortunately, lower reading level books often have rather—I hate to say this—lame stories. So, if you are using reading time to practice their reading skills when they are first learning to read, make sure to balance that time with reading something they really love. This inspires them to keep trying until they can get to the books they will truly enjoy.
Lots of younger kids prefer non-fiction. It’s not surprising. They’re excited to learn about the world. Feeding and inspiring their curiosity is hugely important in helping them become life-long learners. But it can be tedious.
Starting to dread trying to pronounce dinosaur names night after night? Your child will pick up on how you feel. Find a solution.
agree on a shortened form of the dinosaur’s official name
make up a name together
Too much info on a page?
try picking only the most interesting facts—you don’t have to read every word in non-fiction. (You should, in fiction.)You are here to stimulate their endorphins, right? Not become a paleontologist.
Compromise.
One dinosaur book for every other type they pick.
Whatever it takes to keep the pleasure foremost.
3. Where should you read?
Wherever you are most comfortable.
Wherever you can cuddle.
Wherever your kids want to.
Realistically, as a parent, it’s sometimes hard to put aside all those chores that still haven’t been done, and focus on a children’s story. If you’re trying to read at a table full of dirty dishes or on a couch next to a pile of unfolded laundry, and all you can think about is everything else you need to accomplish that night, your children will pick up on your vibes. So, if you have to shove all the shoes out of the bottom of the closet and crawl inside with a lamp in order to find a peaceful place to retreat from the pressures of adulthood and read with your kids, do it.
4. When is the best time?
Your days are packed. I know. And maybe by the time bedtime rolls around, you’re out of patience and so tired you can’t even focus on the print. Tonight, the toddler is whining, and if your son kicks his sister one more time, you are going to lose your mind. Pick a different time.
Shut off your phone and the TV, and read to them while they eat breakfast tomorrow morning. Or while they get dressed. Try reading to them while they’re still eating dinner. You know you can eat faster than they do. If it’s possible, you and your spouse can take turns. Think outside the box to find a time that works for all of you.
Find the time. If you have time to answer texts, go on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, newsfeed or Candy Crush, you have time to read to your kids, instead. While kids don’t usually have the ability to vibrate, their needs are probably more important than what your friend just posted. You’ll get the most return from investing time in your child. Facebook will never know the difference. Your child will.
5. But HOW?
There are lots of ideas on how to help your children amass pre-reading and early-reading skills, but here are some basics geared towards learning to love to read.
Once you have shut off your phone, grabbed a book you both enjoy, and found a cozy spot to curl up in, try taking turns reading. You read a page, they read a page. Or a paragraph.
Read the no-choice book they’ve been assigned. Then read something they enjoy.
The fewer skills they have, the more intimidating and frustrating it is for a lot of children. If they are required to practice their reading skills at home by reading aloud, make sure they get to relax and just listen for part of your reading time together.
Remember the story needs to fit your child where he’s at right now. Perhaps you’re hoping they’ll read your childhood favorite. Don’t expect them to love a story about horses, if they prefer non-fiction books about motorcycles.
Also, you can try to read a story meant for middle graders to your second grader, but if its plot is too advanced for them to relate to, it won’t hold their attention. You’ll both be disappointed and frustrated.
Instill anticipation. When you’re driving them to school, or brushing their hair, try asking a question to build anticipation, curiosity and connection—
“I wonder if the dragon’s egg is going to hatch in our chapter tonight.”
“I was so surprised that they won the game—were you surprised? Wasn’t that exciting?”
If you’re reading a chapter book, try to end on a cliffhanger.
It’s better to stop before they’re tired than to go five minutes past the limit of their patience. Always leave them wanting more.
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