What is reading? According to the RAE, reading is scanning the signs of a word or written text to mentally interpret them or translate them into sounds. But reading is much more than this. Reading is a vehicle that transports us to magical, unknown worlds, developing imagination and creativity, and losing track of time, it is a source of knowledge, it is an activation of emotions, it is a means of entertainment, relaxation, distraction, and enjoyment. Promoting a taste for reading is therefore an important challenge in our task as educators.
We know that reading promotes psychological and emotional development in children, and allows them to experience sensations that are useful for learning and maturing, as well as improving their language skills. This is why, both at home and at school, parents and educators play an essential role in creating habits to foster a love of reading and lay the foundations for future adult readers.
Borges, the famous writer, said that “ the verb to read, like the verb to love and to dream, does not admit the imperative mode”. We cannot force children to read, that is not the way. Nowadays, screens are anticipating books, almost 40% of the Spanish population admits to not reading anything or almost nothing. With this panorama, it is difficult to affirm that the love of reading is one of the actions that can bring the most benefits to the little ones and from which the most benefits can continue to be obtained in adulthood. But it is a reality.
For all these reasons, and firmly believing that we have and can do many things, below we will present a series of tips and tricks that can help parents and educators to encourage our children and students’ love of reading.
Freedom of choice.
Forcing children to read is not a good way. Children should be allowed to choose the books they want to read. We can suggest books that will feed their curiosity and that are appropriate, but at no time should they be prohibited or forced to read one book or another. We must be assertive and use positive reinforcement to encourage reading. Forcing children to read means that children hate this activity; they will never see it as a pleasant moment or as a hobby. If they don’t like a book, there is no problem in leaving it and looking for another.
Understanding reading as a game.
One of the biggest difficulties in fostering a love of reading has been that books have always been associated with the academic world. Showing the friendly and playful side of books and allowing children to enter the world of reading on their own is the best way to encourage their interest in it. Reading should be a pleasurable act.
Use to read creative spaces.
It is advisable to leave the desk in the bedroom aside and look for places that feed imagination and creativity. Many children enjoy, for example, reading in bed, or secret places they have inside their house or bedroom,and that stimulates their imagination even more.
Establish a daily reading habit.
Find a space and time every day for your child to dedicate to reading, for example, before going to sleep or just after snack time. Creating a routine and making your child associate that time with enjoyment is the best way to foster a love of reading. Differentiate between a tedious routine and a habit, creating space at home or in the classroom for everyone to read. This space should be systematic, that is, every day, at the same time. Students will perceive themselves as readers, a vision that will accompany them into their adolescence.
Don’t close yourself off to digital reading.
Reading and the digital world are becoming more and more closely linked every day. With the arrival of tablets and mobile phones came interactive books in which children create their own stories. We must try to adapt to new technologies and consider that paper books can coexist with digital books.
Promote enjoyment and pleasure.
For the little ones, who do not yet know how to read, it is very important to encourage a love of reading. Read the stories, and dramatize the stories. One idea is to read them stories that capture their interest, that they see as part of a book. In this way, they will be interested in looking for the stories on their own. Reading can be seen as a way of enjoying themselves and we must banish the widespread idea that reading is a solitary form of leisure. Going on trips to the countryside to read, going to the park, or taking advantage of Sunday mornings to read together on the sofa are small gestures that both adults and children will enjoy and that will help us to encourage reading at home.
We are interested in reading it.
The best way to get involved in your child’s reading is to take a proactive interest in their favorite titles, characters, and genres. By taking an interest in their reading, you encourage your child to continue reading and feel appreciated.
Boost your child’s imagination by encouraging him or her to write his or her own stories.
Reading sparks imagination and the best way to unleash this creativity is by encouraging children to sit down and write. In addition, with this type of activity, children improve other aspects such as creativity, grammar, and spelling, making their learning something educational and interactive.
Start by reading yourself.
Leading by example and reading, and being seen reading, creates bonds. They imitate us. An example is the best way to promote a love of reading in children. Children look for examples to look up to and the first role models are found at home, not only in parents, but also in other members of the family.
Make a library at home or in the classroom.
Find a place that is accessible, and simple, so that it doesn’t depend so much on the adult. Or go to the municipal library to choose a book, do research, and feel the reading environment. Visit a bookstore. When we travel, always take a book with us. In short, make everything another leisure option.
We have probably heard or read many of these tips, and there are probably more, some will be useful and others will not, but what is clear is that a child who reads will be a free person forever. And that will be the most efficient way for him to understand the variety of situations, possibilities, and behaviors that life offers. That will give the child more tolerance, and understanding of how others think, and it will make him more respectful and supportive.
