According to dictionaries, a `Habit’s is something you do often and regularly, and something without consciously making an effort. To create the “Reading Habit” in young children, parents should start reading to them even before they learn to read and do it daily to create the reading habit. Like the mother tongue, the child needs to hear the language to understand it. Illustrated books come handy in helping them comprehend the text.
Reading together is one of the best ways to spend the time with the child. Here are some tips to develop a good reading habit in your child.
Fix a time to read
To create a good habit, things should be done at a particular time. This helps the child know that there’s a fixed time to read which they can’t skip. Reading before bedtime is a good time and this can develop a good reading habit.
Create a cozy place
A cozy place can make it special and help the child associate it with reading. Positive vibes are created and received by the child to read.
Read with a soft toy
Reading with a non-judgmental companion like a pet or a soft toy gives the child confidence and makes them feel important .
Make it Humorous
Start with humorous stories. Who doesn’t want to laugh, after all? Once children enjoy a funny story they will read other genres (fables, fairytales, folktales etc.)
Read nonfiction books
Nonfiction books can bring a child closer to reality and help them increase their knowledge. They can discover things and places through books.
Subscribe to a good magazine
Children look forward to it every month. It gives them personal belongingness where they can gain current information, read short stories, solve puzzles etc in it.
Active involvement
Ask questions after/in between the stories and retell the story, take a quiz or create a quiz. It gives you an idea if your child understood what he/she read and even encourages the child to pay more attention.
Visit book stores
Take your child around a book store when there is a book launch, and get an autographed booked. Show children that books are as important as clothes, toys, and food. Reading is food for the mind. Visiting book stores frequently can help develop good reading habits.
Reading is absolutely essential to success. Hence cultivate it wherein it becomes an asset to attain continuous knowledge and a book becomes a companion wherein a person also reads for pleasure and relaxation.