The best way to encourage your kids to become avid readers is to read to them at an early age. Studies have shown that the amount of time parents spend reading to their children is the most important factor in children's literacy level. Stories can challenge children's growing reasoning abilities and let them exercise their imaginations, too.

But beside these benefits, reading to your kids can be a lot of fun. It doesn't have to take a lot of effort, either. Authors have devoted years of their lives practicing how to write stories that grab kids' attention and give them something to think about afterwards. All you have to do is be a good guide.

You can start reading to your child as early as you'd like. The U.S. Department of Education recommends reading to a pre-school aged child for about 20 minutes a day. As your child becomes more comfortable with reading, you can expand this time period.
As you read, pay attention to how your child is responding to the story. If she seems bored, come back to the story another day or try a different book. When your child seems excited by a book, remember this for later on- she'll probably enjoy books by the same author or on the same topic.
Encourage your child to become involved in the stories you read together. Try stopping at certain points in the story and asking what your child thinks will happen next. When the story's finished, you could ask her if she would have done things differently if she was the main character.
Consider visiting your public library on a regular basis. Not only can you find great new books to share with your kids, but you can also enroll them in reading programs that offer incentives for reading on a regular basis.

The most important thing is to enjoy the books you read together. By making your child's first experiences with books positive ones, you're helping her take the first steps toward becoming a lifelong reader.


Log in to take advantage of Thinkport’s full benefits