How can we encourage our children to read more? This is the question that I’ve been asked so many times by parents over the years.
There is no simple answer to this question but, in fact, there are some useful tips and suggestions for finding the right balance and motivation with your children.
My own children, who are 7 and 12 years old, have become almost obsessive readers and users of our local library (last time, our very generous librarians let them take out about 50 books between the two of them). Wow! Friends, neighbours, and colleagues often ask how I encouraged them to read so much.
The single most important factor for me is that I applied no pressure on them. They choose the books that they want to read, and their motivation is suddenly sky-high.
However, there are several ways that my family has introduced literature into their lives that has allowed them the opportunity to engage with books and reading. This all started back when they were very young, every evening before they went to bed, I read them a story. Of course, at first, I decided what to read them, and eventually they took over and started to choose the stories they wanted me to read.
We sat together in their beds and read the books and took our time while they commented or asked questions. This became a normal bedtime routine and still is today. It is one both my children and I look forward to every day. When they got a little older, we visited the local library and sometimes bookshops. The key has always been to let them pick, but also offer some suggestions or guidance.
When they were younger, they relied on the pictures to follow the story, as there were sometimes words they didn’t understand. Sometimes they asked ‘what does… mean, Dad?
They would also make comments about the characters or story which were often insightful or amusing, which showed me they were truly engaged. They even started to adapt parts of the stories themselves and also recite sections of the stories that they remembered or enjoyed most.
My older daughter still remembers whole sections of some storybooks and loves to read them to her younger brother now. One of her favourites was ‘Hairy Mclary by Lynley Dodd’ which we can both still recall from when she was 4 or 5 years old.
Many storybooks also use lots of repetition and rhyming language to help the children remember and add another level of fun. A rhyming favourite of both my children are from the series by Julie Fulton such as ‘Miss Dorothy-Jane was ever so vain’ and or one of my son’s favourites ‘The cat in the hat’ by Dr Seuss. This can be a great way to engage them as well, as after a few readings, they often start to pick up the final rhyming words.
As my children have grown older, we moved on to stories that my parents read to me as a child. Not long ago, we started on ‘The Hobbit’ by J. R. R Tolkien which was a much more challenging story to read as it’s not written specifically for children. Nevertheless, they were totally engrossed by it, although they sometimes had questions about new words that came up. We also listened to the audiobook version of this story when we were travelling in the car, and this brought the story to life even further for them.
Another useful way to allow them to continue reading in breaks from schoolwork can be to buy them a Kindle or similar device. This also gives them the additional help of a digital dictionary, which can be helpful for children learning a second language.
I think with these types of stories it’s also important that the parent enjoys them as your voice can really portray so many emotions. My children are always commenting on how my voice makes the stories more exciting for them.
So, what tips would I give to parents and children to help encourage them to read more.
Well, I would first say that reading together is always the best way to start. If you read together with your children, they will see how much fun it is, and your enthusiasm will rub off on them.
Next, I think that a love of reading can often be born from visiting a local library or bookshop. When children can see how many books are available and are given the time to browse, they will inevitably find something that interests them. Even if this is in French initially, the love of libraries and bookshops can lead to your children also starting to read more in English. There are English language bookshops and libraries in most large cities.
As I said earlier, the most important thing is to get them interested in reading, so when they get old enough, let them choose the books they want to read. This will be the single most important factor in encouraging them to read further as they get older.
As I still do with my children, make it a habit to read a story before bedtime, and you will see how much they enjoy spending the time with you and how this can inspire them. Bedtime is the best time to read, as this can also help with getting a good night’s sleep. As researchers often tell us, reducing or cutting out screen time before we sleep can also help our brain rest more easily.
When you do read to your children, let them interact with you and the story, especially with younger children and picture books. Children are full of wonder and love to ask questions and show you they know stuff. The characters and events of the story frequently provoke comments or interest in the children, and they should be allowed to interact to a certain point, or they may switch off.
As your children start to read in English, they will obviously want to ask questions about new words, and this can be a good way for them to show their interest in understanding the story. It can also be an opportunity for them to use English to ask questions.
My children take pride in organising their books on shelves in their bedroom, so giving them a space or shelves where they can store their books is very beneficial. Creating a reading corner and area in their room or somewhere in your house is a great way to allow them to personalise their own space to make it comfortable.
Finally, we also need to set a good example for our children and let them see us reading for pleasure. Children who grow up in a home where others read can also help them see that this is an important part of life to gain knowledge, but also enrich our lives. So, go on, start reading to your children and you’ll see the benefits for years to come!
Top reading tips
- Read together with your family
- Join and visit your local library
- Let children choose books to read
- Read a story before bedtime
- Ask questions about story or characters
- Ask for help with new words
- Create a reading area at home
- Let children see you reading
