RAISING READERS 101

 

Raising Readers: We look at the importance of teaching your kids how to read, and the benefits of spending quality reading time together as a family.

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How did you become a booklover? Do you feel you were born that way or was there some shaping that took place?

With World Book and Copyright Day being on 23 April, it’s the perfect time to think about how we can start encouraging and raising our own boisterous bookworms. Here’s how to slowly build your own book buddy.

IT STARTS WITH YOU
If it’s been a while since you picked up a novel or short story in your favourite genre, make space and time for yourself to read, but make sure that your reading time isn’t seen as a negative thing towards children.

Do not shoo them away at this time, instead, let them see and learn about how reading is a space of positivity and happiness. Similarly, if you’ve never been much of a reader, but your are, allow them the space and time to practice reading.

READ ALOUD
According to a 2008 research article found in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, reading to children, and allowing questions, doesn’t only help them to develop their literacy and phonological knowledge, it encourages children to feel more secure with their parents – particularly with their mothers when they could find connections between the book, their mom, and their true selves.

This shared positivity helps to shape and strengthen their self-esteem and ability to respond and communicate with others.

BE OSCAR-WORTHY
Put on your best show! Use your senses, voice, mannerisms, and rhythm to keep children engaged. Take pauses from the page and make eye contact or add a few gasps and time for reactions – keep your audience engaged.

If your child asks you to re-read Dr. Zeuss’s ‘Green Eggs and Blue Ham’ for the 1000th time – read it! Allow them what they enjoy, and encourage them to explore the world of books so that they feel your support, as well as how a challenge is a good thing.

BE CHOOSY ABOUT CHOOSING
A 2018 article in the 9th volume of Frontiers in Psychology suggests that different types of books – picture books, or text-heavy books – invoke a unique experience for kids versus their moms. If you choose a book that focuses on words, a more maternal expertise is conveyed to the child, where you are in a safe learning and teaching space.

Picture books allow children to recognise familiar-looking things, or display a sense of awe. This allows you to both talk about the pictures and how it relates to the story, or develop their curiosity and excitement about certain things

THIS SHARED POSITIVITY HELPS TO SHAPE AND STRENGTHEN THEIR SELF-ESTEEM AND ABILITY

PRACTICE PARROT
If you’re going off to read, invite your child into the space and teach them the etiquette of reading. You could play games of storytelling – children will use their knowledge of what they’ve read or heard to don their author’s hat.

Introduce the books or stories you enjoy and let them ask you questions about what makes you love them. If you see them mimicking the way you scrunch your nose when reading, or how you place your hand under your chin, let them.

Their mimicry of you when you’re positive, finding reward or pleasure in books, will create a mutually enjoyable experience.

HAVE A READING PICNIC
“We’re going to sit quietly for 5 minutes and then we can talk about our books”, or create a space where you share what you’ve each been reading.

This helps you and your child learn more about each other, each other’s interests, and what has been pricking each other’s brains. This creates a sense of comfort and safety that will grow into other areas of life.

Even if only one of you is reading, and the other one is the listener – the space is there to connect and be creative.

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By Saadiqah Schroeder
Images: Gallo/Getty