Unlocking the Joy of Reading: 6 Tips and Strategies to Cultivate a Lifelong Love of Books
As parents and educators, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a love for books and reading. But how exactly do we foster that love? Here are some tips and strategies to help:
Start early: It's never too early to start reading to your child. Infants can benefit from being read to. It helps establish a positive association with books from an early age. Teachers, start off the school year on day 1 by reading aloud your FAVORITE picture book (it doesn't have to be about the first day of school!). Students are listening to a story, learning more about you, and bonus- you get to read aloud your favorite book!
“Infants can benefit from being read to. It helps establish a positive association with books from an early age.”
Make it fun: Reading shouldn't feel like a chore, so make it fun and engaging. Read with LOTS of expression, use silly voices, or act out the story! My biggest crowd-pleasers as a librarian were read alouds when I’d really get into character. Sure, I felt a little silly doing it and other teachers watching probably thought I lost it, but the kids loved it and that made it worth it.
Be a role model: Children are more likely to develop a love for reading if they see the adults in their lives reading and enjoying books. Teachers and librarians, read when your students are reading! Easier said than done, I know… but the impact of students seeing you as a reader is tremendous! When I did this with my second graders, I kept thinking, I should be meeting with students or I should be prepping my next lesson… but taking 5-10 minutes to model enjoying a personal book is effective. Parents, make it a daily habit to read every day, even for just a few minutes. Reading will become second nature for the whole family.
Choose the right books: Find books that match your child's interests. My older daughter went through a Paw Patrol phase and we accumulated A LOT of Paw Patrol books. They wouldn’t have been my first choice, but that’s what got her excited to read. Finding the right book for a student can be HARD. My favorite thing as an elementary librarian was finding the perfect book for a reader. I was often successful with matching books to readers with this checklist of questions.
Read together: Reading together can be a bonding experience and also helps build important language and literacy skills. When adults model the act of reading and verbalize their thoughts, it can significantly benefit early readers by showing them how to comprehend text and engage with it on a deeper level.
“When adults model the act of reading and verbalize their thoughts, it can significantly benefit early readers by showing them how to comprehend text and engage with it on a deeper level.”
Create a reading-friendly environment: Set up a cozy reading nook and have plenty of books available. Both of my daughters have corner areas in their bedrooms with a bookshelf and a comfy chair. You definitely do not need to go buy hundreds of books to stock up your child’s personal library! Make visiting your local public library a weekly or monthly routine to continually have books readily available in your child’s reading area or “book nook”!
Keep it up: Consistency is key. Make sure you're consistently reading with your child and encouraging (not forcing) them to read on their own. Over time, a love for reading will develop and grow.
This can be hard, especially with the demands of trying to juggle it all. When it’s been a long day and it’s ready to put my 17-month-old down for bed, sometimes I just want to go to sleep too. I strategically pick her favorite books that are on the shorter side so that we’re still reading, but maybe not taking as much time as we usually do with our bedtime routine.
Teachers and librarians, the demands of educators today are enormous. Every minute of the day is scheduled for creating engaging lessons, teaching content, and assessing student learning. If you’re not already, try to carve out 10 minutes a day to read aloud (bonus if the read aloud is connected to content standards!).
Remember, the goal isn't necessarily to turn your child or student into a bookworm (although that's certainly a great outcome!), but rather to instill a love of reading that will benefit them for a lifetime. Check out this visual you can add to a family space, classroom, or library with reminders that will help children foster a love of books and reading. With these tips and strategies, you can set your child or student up for success!
If you want to learn more about how to support your readers, I highly recommend this fantastic book! If you'd like to add this book to your personal collection or professional library, click on the covers to purchase through Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Happy reading!
