Reading train - Improve your reading skills

How can parents promote good reading habits in their children?

Public Comments

1. The best way to promote good reading habits when they're young is to read to them often. If they're already older and you didn't do as much reading as you should have then they'll have to find the joy in reading on their own. The best teacher my daughter ever had told me that some kids love it and some kids don't. The kids that don't love it, love other stuff and that's okay too.
2. Read to them when they are young....sit and read interesting books to them about topics they like. Read yourself.
3. When they see you read, and especially when you read to them. Most of what kids learn is by watching what their parents do. If you don't like to read and they never see you do it then they won't think it is important! When my 2 year sees me sit down with a book, he runs to his bookcase and picks out a book so he can read too!
4. Read to them all their young lives (1-6). When they start school buy them a little paperback dictionary and spend a year teaching them how to use it. Ask questions about stories you've read to them.
5. I read and I read to my son, I've even read my sociology textbook to him. He wasn't real interested in that but he is one and brings me his books all the time. The trick is just to read to themwhen they are young after a few times they will bring you books.
6. Reading to your children daily. That's what my mom did for me and my siblings. Or, rewarding them for reading at least 2 books a week.
7. Simply read and spend more time with them from the time they are very young, it will also help them in school when they get older. My mom worked 14 hours a day, 7 days a week yet my self and my niece (who's 14 months older then me) learned to read and write by the time we were three. What really kills me is I actually got in trouble for knowing how to read and write in kindergarten. I called the teacher and the other kids stupid, because I thought everyone should know what I knew, I never went to daycare but was watched by my eighteen year old sister, raised around all adults, and had no other relatives close to my age (besides my niece), so I didn't know other kids didn't know what I knew. Parents (I'm not saying you, but some parents) act like they do have enough time to spend with their children, that is bull hockey. Good question.
8. buy interesting books for their age,sit with them and read and teach them to read,take them to the library and book stores to read,less tv and games
9. lead by example. both my parents read novels constantly. they both read in the evenings after watching tv and then they go to bed. my two siblings and i have all grown up to be very keen readers also. my grandparents and my parent read to us each night before falling asleep. books were always a part of our life. once a month our family went to the library so my parents to hire some books. we were encouraged to select books if we wanted to also.
10. By reading with them everyday (if possible) and make it fun, or something that is done as a good night routine. The easiest way to ensure that they are learning and reading well is to sit with them and watch. Mine children are 4 and 2 and when we sit down with a pile of books to read...its funny because my daughter turns the pages and my son reads the book to me. We have read them so often that he can tell the story by looking at the pictures. He gets so excited when he thinks that he read it like a big person and that motivates him to start learning the words. He can pick lots out already and spell out the letters because he recognizes them. It is all about consistency and fun. I never imagined at 24 that reading "The Big Red Balloon" could be so fun...lol
11. Read to them when they are little as much as you can. When they're about 2 or 3 start pointing to the words as you read so they can follow along. Ask questions about the books you read together (what do you think will happen next? Do you think this character's costume is funny? things like that.) As they start to be able to read, read with them. But instead of reading it all yourself, alternate. For example-you read 1 paragraph, sentence, page, etc. Then your child reads another one (start off small when they are first learning by maybe having them read a few sentences or a small paragraph) Still ask lots of questions about what you are reading. Also, make sure they see you reading too! You need to practice what you preach. My daughter will often wake up from her nap and find me curled up on our chaise with a book. She usually climbs up and snuggles with me. I'll usually read a little bit of my book to her (they are usually fantasy-type books) because it gives her a chance to see a different vocabulary being used and certain words just stick in her mind...the other day she called our dog pragmatic after she heard it in my book! That was a cute moment. Hope this was some help.