Before the overwhelming waves of technological entertainment took over the recreational practices of children, there were books. Before there were late-night TV shows for kids to watch as they wind-down for sleep, there were bedtime stories. Books used to be our sole outlets for imaginative thinking, and a way to spark our creativity; allow us to dream in bright colors. These days, it appears that kids are more likely to choose to spend their free time playing mindless games on their iPad’s, rather than getting lost in the magic of a great book, and understandably so. For a young child learning to read, becoming glued to a screen can feel much less overwhelming and laborious than becoming glued to the words on a page.
However, it is not always the most advantageous pastime, especially for the growing brain of a child. Reading increases IQ, improves memory, and strengthens brain development, especially in the moldable minds of younger generations. Yet, despite its multitude of benefits, only 53% of American children claim to enjoy reading, and a minuscule 26% of American children read every day, according to a study conducted by the National Literacy Trust. Something must be done to change these concerning statistics! It is time to find new mechanisms for motivating children to read, and in turn, improve their beautiful and potential-filled minds.
So, how can we help children develop a love for reading?
1. Provide some external motivation
One way to create a supportive and encouraging environment for a child learning to read is to fashion a good-natured literacy incentivization for them. For instance, you could inspire the child with a special prize if they successfully read 4 chapter books in the next two months. The majority of people, especially children, are highly motivated to work for a special prize. Not only does this promote stronger reading habits, but it gives adolescents something to look forward to. Especially during this era of COVID-19, the struggle to induce excitement in children for events in the future is becoming increasingly prevalent, and any opportunity to provide a “light at the end of the tunnel”, should be taken immediate advantage of. Although it may feel as if encouraging a child to read with the incentive of a prize could detract from their development of a true love of reading, this feeling is surprisingly irrational.
The love reading that emerges in a child has to begin somewhere, and it truly does not matter whether that beginning comes from within, or from an incentive of someone else. One does not simply start reading at 6 years old because they love it; that love develops with more and more reading. So, beginning this process with the temptation of a prize, in the end, will encourage kids to begin reading on their own in the future. Once they realize how incredible it feels to be whisked away to an alternative universe through a carefully composed chapter, the desire to continue reading will prevail.
2. Step into their shoes and join them
Another way to encourage younger generations to read is to join them in their literary endeavors. Meaning, read the book with them and have conversations about it. One of the main reasons why children refrain from falling into the habit of reading is because it involves no social interaction. For a kid, it is very difficult to sit still for twenty minutes and stay focused, when there is no discussion involved. To combat this issue, read the book with them and have “book clubs”. Whether you both read a chapter silently and then proceed to come together to discuss your thoughts and experiences of reading, or you have the child read aloud to you (it’s important to have the child read rather than yourself, so they get more literary practice) and take time in between pages to discuss immediate reactions. It makes the entire process much more invigorating. One could take this idea a step further and encourage children to form “book clubs” with their peers. In this situation, they could all gather together (over zoom during these times) and have passionate conversations about how they felt about the book. Because the reading process is now social interaction outlet, children are much more motivated to pick up a book and take the time to truly comprehend it.
There are plenty of additional mechanisms that would work in encouraging children to develop a passion for reading, which can be found here! As reading is genuinely so vital to the proper development of children, it is important to constantly be searching for new ways to motivate the children in your life to find joy in reading.
Comments