File this under: Right up our alley. Since 1989, the second week in November is National Young Readers Week, which we think is a great chance to talk about some of the ways that we can help turn young readers into lifelong readers.
Below are a few thoughts from my household, where I am raising my own young reader. Ever since my daughter was born, I have been conscious of how personally important it is to me to instill a love of books and language in my daughter. (And I think it's working.) I have always loved reading: on the most fundamental level, it is something that I know I will always have, no matter what. I want my daughter to feel that way, too.
But my daughter's reached the age where I have to tread lightly when it comes to particular things that I want to accomplish with her. I can't be too obvious or explicit about it, and I can't force it.
She also thrives on routine right now, and will identify anything we've done more than once as something we "always" do. So while reading aloud has often been an activity leading up to naptime and bedtime, I also work it in at other times so that she won't feel that we "only" read before bed.
To that end, here are a few things I am trying to be really consientious about:
- Reading can happen anytime! Late Sunday morning, my daughter fell into a tantrum cycle, the kind where she shouts "NO!" about everything (even to her own suggestions, sigh). I could see we needed a little cool-down time, so I suggested we read. In turn, she asked that we read some books we had never read before, a suggestion for which I was intensely grateful. Reading together in this instance broke the tantrum cycle, and helped lessen the association between books and having to go to bed.
- Read as much as I can stand. This is a tough one. Sometimes, especially when reading the same book for the 45 millionth time at night, I just want to say "one and done." (And to be honest, sometimes I do say that.) But I spend so much time putting limits on what my daughter can and can't do that I try to read as many books as she wants. Yesterday during our tantrum mitigation, I read six long books, and we both felt good about that. (Tip: sometimes when she insists on reading "a lot of books!", I mix in short board books. That way I can read a variety without also missing bedtime.)
- Answer all the questions. Lately when we're out and about, my daughter asks what all the signs in the neighborhood say. In New York City, there are--for example--a bazillion "no parking" signs, and she asks about all of them. She's familiar enough with alternate side parking rules (poor kid) that it's not sufficient for me to say, "It says no parking." I have to read the days and times as well. Same goes for the signs requesting--with varying degrees of politeness--that folks curb their dogs. It's tedious, but I try to do it because it helps her learn about her world. And about alternate side parking!
These are some of the things I am thinking about while I help my daughter grow into a reader. But for more topics and a variety of perspectives, check out the Raise a Reader blog. (I am bookmarking this article that talks about bribing kids to read.)
In the comments, tell us how you're raising your young readers. What challenges--like, say, summoning the energy to read aloud after a long and tiring day--do you face?
Photo via Flickr/plaisanter~
