How to help children to enjoy reading

Many parents have a common complaint: their children don't read, resist reading or don't enjoy reading. Instead their children turn to the television or to games for amusement.  This is unsettling. Reading is one of the activities that is most likely to develop the ability to think, to be creative and to communicate. Reading is also a key requirement for doing well at school. What can parents do to help their children enjoy reading? Here are some very successful suggestions that I have tested.

Start it in the cradle
A simple carboard book for babies and a parent's voice reading a rhyme or words from the book is a very strong start. Make sure to repeat the word 'book' a lot so that it becomes an early part of the infant's vocabulary. It is easier for an infant to say 'book' than to say 'television'.

Bedtime stories are important
Although it may be difficult to find the time, build bedtime stories into the daily routine for younger children. Make this non-negotiable for yourself. The younger children are when they are exposed to stories, the more likely they are to enjoy books. The voice of a parent and the magic of a story can form a very strong appreciation of books and reading. Bedtime stories can also help children fall asleep quicker.

Make pictures in the mind
While reading ask the child to close his or her eyes and make pictures in his or her head. Ask the child what he or she sees? This helps the child visualise the story and can be important when comparing stories to television (see below).

Develop a shared reading habit from a young age
Make time to allow children to see you read. While reading, encourage them to read from their own books. The experience that reading is a thing that 'the whole family does' will make the child comfortable with the activity and give them confidence in their choice of reading as a leisure activity, even if other children try to create the perception that reading is 'uncool'. When a child reads, show an encouraging interest by asking what is happening in the story, which bits the child is enjoying, and talking about the book in general.

Make opportunities to turn the television and electronic games off
Reading is almost impossible if the television is on or if someone is playing a game. Turn off electronic entertainment regularly to create quiet times for reading.

Allow the child to choose books
It is very tempting to want to share your childhood favourites with a child, but the child may not enjoy them or may feel that the choice imposes on them. Instead allow them to choose their own books within reason. A walk through a bookshop scanning the brightly coloured covers can be just as exciting as a walk through a toy shop.

Compare books to movies or television and demonstrate 1 (Scenes missing from movies)
In the first Harry Potter novel, there is a hilarious scene in which Uncle Vernon and Harry struggle to get to the mail first. Harry steps on Uncle Vernon's head to get there first. Books contain far more details than films can contain. Find fun examples and talk to kids about them.

Compare books to movies or television and demonstrate 2 (Absent emotions and thoughts)
Show how books can tell what emotions are going through the heads of characters and what they are thinking or planning to do. Books do this far better than a movie can.

Compare books to movies or television and demonstrate 3 (Your own pictures)
Reading allows children to make their own pictures in their heads. Ask children how they see the pictures from reading the book and watching the movie. Don't be negative if they enjoy the picture from the movie more, but you can ask what they would add to the picture?

Choose a school that fosters reading
Good schools send books home with children, every day, and have good libraries. This can also be a way to save money on book purchases, but do allow children to choose books from bookshops from time to time. However don't rely on the school. You can teach your child to enjoy reading far better than a school can. If you don't share and enjoy reading at home, the school will naturally have double the work to convince your child that reading is fun.

Encourage making up stories
Children who read for pleasure will also make up their own stories. Encourage children to make up stories of their own. They may add to existing stories or use plotlines from books that they have read. It all adds to the joy of stories.

Build understanding of stories
Explain the shape and traditional characters in stories. Stories have beginnings, middles and ends. Sometimes these can be switched around. What does this do? In every story, the hero confronts a main problem? What is the problem in the story that the child is reading? What is the role of the traditional set of characters? What does the villain do? What does the hero's teacher / mentor do? Why does the hero's teacher leave the story? Who is the hero's buddy? Is there a fool in the story? Does the hero have a pet / familiar?

Be helpful with questions
Make time to explain or find synonyms for difficult words and help out with the meanings of difficult sentences. Don't assume that your child understands everything just because he or she doesn't ask. Find ways to ask.

Don't ignore comics
In fact, encourage them as well. They are more advanced versions of picture books, they have become a valid literary genre and kids love the bright colours. In addition to relating words to pictures, they encourage visual / design literacy and they are quick to read when time is of the essence. If you still need a reason, remember that your child will probably see the movie. Do you still need a reason? Maybe your child could be the next Lichtenstein.

Help your child dismiss the opinions of children who do not read
Stories are more fun and children who read more are smarter. Winners read for enjoyment. If you have done your work well, your child will know for certain that children who don't like reading are losing out.

Finally

DON'T DISCOURAGE MOVIES, TELEVISION AND CONSOLE / COMPUTER GAMES
If you discourage watching movies, television shows and console / computer games, your child may build up a resentment against reading because it denies him or her the opportunity to watch. Your child will need to see movies and shows and play games to keep current with other kids, but keep viewing within reason. Watch age restrictions though.