Six ways to get your child to love reading. 

Young children love to copy their parents . If they see you reading they will see it as an important part of adult life and be more eager to read.

With older children - consider reading the books they are reading or let them tell you about it. Tell them about the book you are reading and what you like or dislike about it. If you have no time to read right now - talk about a book you read in the past and what you want to read in the future.

Remember if you typically read on an electronic device your child will not necessary know you are reading make sure you share what you are doing.

Reading is a luxury and a joy.

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Therefore reading should be marketed as a bonus - a lucky pleasurable event. Instead of 'have to' use 'get to' or earn better that they 'have earned the time to read.'

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One of my pet peeves is the way  children are told they have to read for a certain amount of time.  Inevitably this makes reading a chore and causes children to watch the clock and loose the  momentum of the plot and any  joy in reading.  Let reading be a reward for other homework or a time spent in a special comfy seat or snuggling next to a parent or pet.

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Like wise in school if a child finishes a test early let them read don't tell them they have to read - tell them they have earned the privilege. 

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Always have a book available. When driving in the car, waiting at the barber shop or dentist. Show them how reading is a fantastic way to pass the time.

Ask your child what they are reading. Show an interest in the books content the characters and your child's opinion on the book, text and the characters. Make this part of your daily conversation.

With the older child consider a family book club - read the same book and discuss as you go.

Discussing a book as you read it to them or after they have read on their own increases their comprehension which is so important. 

Many times young children are so worried about reading the word that they do not understand the plot. They may even seem like prolific readers who read beyond their age and grade but they may be merely sounding out the words perfectly and not necessarily processing the comprehension.

The same with older children who are reading more complex text. The only way to really discover how much your child is understanding is to ask questions. 

Plus what a great dinner time topic to discuss.

Finding the right fit for your child is crucial. Take note of your child's interests - if they love science there are a ton of great books for every age. There are math books, nature books, animal books, space books ... the list goes on (and hopefully we will cover a lot of those booklists soon)

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Spend time in the library or secondhand book shops. Let them choose and do not judge their choices.

For your older child consider a genre like fantasy, adventure, dystopian fiction, non-fiction. But also different styles - graphic novels are a great way for your child to enjoy and excel at reading - they can see the pictures and relate it to the captions/words. (stand by for a whole article on graphic novels soon)

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Then of course there is always Harry Potter ..... on of the most famous books in its ability to ignite the reader in your child. 

Surround your child with books and people who love books Get friends and family to talk to your child about the books they are reading and ask about the books your child is reading.

Ask a relative or friend if they will be a penpal to your child. Get your child to write to them sometime between Monday and Wednesday and ask their penpal to write back between Thursday and Sunday. This is also a wonderful writing skill for your child but they will eagerly read and retell the messages they get back. (Don't forget to ask the penpal to discuss what they are reading and ask your child about their books)

If you are a coach, tutor or educator talk about the books you love and how much you love reading. The more people who spread the word the better.

As soon as they are born for as long as they will let you. Read to your child. Find a time of day which  works (before bed is ideal). Find a special location and read every day. 

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Scheduling this time into your day maybe hard to navigate finding time but the benefits are huge. You are not only signaling that reading and books are important  but you are signaling that they are important.

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Having a child snuggle with you while you read is one of the most wonderful gifts. (I have teens now and really miss this gift ).