Encouraging kids to read

As adults, we  have, often , encountered two sets of people in life  : one, lovers of books and two, those who are at hand’s length distance from reading .The former are engaged in a life-long process of growth , while the latter grow but stop at a point struck by stagnation. If we investigate further, we  would conclude that ,in almost all cases, love for books or no love for books has its roots in childhood.

Let me first enumerate the benefits of reading to kids:

• Helps develop language and speech: Reading to kids is one of the most effective ways of building the “language” neural connections in his growing brain. It helps in comprehension and subsequently in speech and language skills. This is one reason kids with delayed speech are encouraged by therapists to read and look at different types of books.Kids are exposed to an endless number of words and meanings which no school curriculum can ever match.
• It lengthens the attention span of the kid: Developing interest in reading, helps calm down a very hyperactive and restless child.
• Enhances creativity: Reading books introduces the kid to very many different worlds, making him or her imaginative and creative in the process. No wonder fairytales are so popular among young readers!
• Engenders curiosity: A curious kid is an intelligent kid.
• Special bond: Taking time out of your busy schedule and curling up to you kid while reading a book, is perhaps one of the best moments of parenthood.

Let me now suggest ways of doing so because reading to kids may not be as easy as it appears. In cases where reading and kids mean opposite things, in other words, where the kid is hyper active and inattentive, the parent has to go the extra mile to make a child interested in books. The following are some tips, at first it may seem impossible, but with consistent effort, the results can be achieved.

• Reading as a routine: Include reading to the kid in his or her daily routine. This maybe done at night before sleeping.
• Choose the right books: At first, you may choose a book that you think maybe of interest to your kid. Like my 3 year old toddler is crazy about cars, so a book that shows all sorts of cars, interest him.
• Create the right environment: This can be done by switching of the television or taking away the kid’s favourite toy. This along with reading out loud   would help the kid to concentrate better.
• Throwing a Kids’ Reading Party: This can be done by choosing a common book, inviting your kid’s friends, reading out portions of the book and finally giving gifts to each child.

 These little efforts could mean a lifetime of success for the child and for that reason alone, it is worth giving a try.