How You Can Help Your Child To Be An Avid Reader
Alvin Poh
Reading is the most efficient and economical way
to help anyone to acquire information, knowledge, skills and
improve on one self. And it is most wonderful to help your child
to be a great reader as young as possible.
The best way to help a child or any one to learn
a skill and be good at it is to create a Supportive and
Conducive Environment to make it easy for her to learn. Here are
some suggestions that you may find helpful:
1. Have lots of good books in the home at all
times. You can either buy them or borrow them from the library.
The National Library has tons of excellent books suitable for
children of all ages - story books and information books (you
can find books on all kinds of topic, e.g. books on animals,
seasons, famous artists and people, human body, interesting
places, occupations). For our family, we make it a routine to
visit the library every week if not every fortnight. It is a
great family outing for all of us.
2. At your home, have the reading materials and
books easily accessible to your child so that she can get hold
of them at her convenience. The best way is to have an open book
shelf that is of the right height for your child. Providing her
a proper place to keep her books and stuffs is also a good way
to teach your child about responsibility - teach her to care for
her things by getting her to put them back in the right place
after use.
3. Adults at home (especially parents) must set
good examples by reading books regularly. Children learn by
observing what their parents do. Be a good reader yourself. I'd
recommend non-fiction books - e.g. books on parenting,
self-enrichment and improvement etc. (By the way, newspapers are
not considered because there is simply too much negative news
and sensational but non-useful information in each publication -
they are not good to our brain and personal growth.)
4. Read to your child daily. Make it a routine,
like before bed time. The best persons to read to the child is
her parents and that is you. Reading together with your child is
also one of the best ways for bonding with your child.
5. Carry books with you when you bring your
child out so that you can read to her when an opportunity
arises, e.g. while waiting for someone, at the petrol station,
on the MRT/ subway.
6. Give lots of encouragement and praise when
the child make the effort to read by herself. Encouragement
helps to boost your child's self-esteem and help her want to do
even better.
7. Make learning fun and enjoyable. Discuss with
your child about the things she has read and has fun with her by
acting out some of the scenes in the books. This will help to
fill your home with lots of laughter and love.
Article by Alvin
Poh, founder of The Parenting Network For The Achievement of
Human Potential. To learn how you help your children to develop
and excel in their natural potential, go to:
http://www.alvinkh.per.sg/parentingnetwork.
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