Motivating Children to Read

Funny how one day I struggle to find something to blog about and then the next I have five topics! I would gladly post all five in one day, but think I will pace myself!

The first one I will start with is the one from my Blogging Bunch group. I love this group and the support I get form them. Today's task is to "Solve a problem with your blog post." At first I did something that might have resembled a grumble. I don't know how to solve a problem. I have too many I am trying to solve let alone help someone else.

Then it hit me! I am going to give some tips to parents about getting their children to read! Then I got really excited and thought about it the whole time until I was able to get home and get started! So here we go!

How to Motivate Your Child to Read

• Read yourself
• Being a role model is so important. If they see you read, they will read. How many times have you caught your child saying or doing something that you yourself do? Why would reading be any different?

• Find a topic that interests them
• If they aren't interested they aren't going to read it. Do you read something you aren't interested in? All during the school year they have to read things that may not interest them about 80% of the time.

• Take an outing to the library
• Here they can pick what they would like to read. If they are having a hard time finding something, ask a librarian for some recommendations based on what they like. While there, check a book out for yourself

• Plan an activity to go with a book
• There are tons of book activities on the web (I know, I have looked!) Just search lesson plans for said book. There may be activities to do as you go along or when they are finished. This will work of any level of book, picture or chapter book.

• Read with/to them
• This one is my most favorite and what I feel is the most important. Dads, you need to read to your children also. They, especially boys, need a reading role model.

• Get excited about reading and don't use it as a punishment
• No one likes to do anything that isn't exciting and that they at one time have been punished for. Reading is supposed to be fun.

So there is my advice that hopefully helps solve a problem you might have.