| There are numerous ways to encourage children | | | | whether it is a good idea to keep some animals in |
| to read. With some thought, planning and | | | | zoos. |
| imagination, reading sessions can be entertaining | | | | The child might be interested in seeing the word |
| and fun. | | | | that names the animal and parents can |
| Parents want their children to read fluently and | | | | occasionally point out the word. If this is done in a |
| confidently and with good reason. We are in the | | | | funny or exciting manner, it might stir the child's |
| information age and although our dependence on | | | | interest in finding the word for himself. For older |
| technology grows day by day, reading, and indeed | | | | children, read some parts of the text together. If |
| writing, are more important than ever. | | | | your child does not know a word, give him the |
| When thinking of ways to encourage children to | | | | opportunity to sound it out but if that is difficult, |
| read, it is important to look at the media that | | | | just tell him the word. Try not to interrupt the |
| children actually enjoy. They love videos, video | | | | fun and understanding of the piece with too much |
| games, music and films. So, what are the | | | | emphasis on getting every single word right. The |
| elements of these media that attracts them? | | | | way to encourage children to read is to provide a |
| Children enjoy visual and aural stimulation, | | | | stress free, supportive reading environment. |
| competition, interactivity and drama. If these | | | | Introduce action. For example, if the book is about |
| were incorporated into the reading activity, might | | | | vehicles, why not make a drawing of two cars |
| they not capture a child's interest? | | | | and encourage your child to paint the drawings? |
| When reading to a child, parents can begin by | | | | Stick the finished paintings on a piece of card and |
| making sure they choose a book that the child | | | | cut them out. Pile up some small boxes and plastic |
| might find interesting. If a child has an interest in | | | | tubs to make rough terrain. Let your child have |
| cars and trucks, look for a book about a toy car's | | | | one car and you take the other then see whose |
| adventure or, if the child is older, even a colourful, | | | | car can drive over the boxes and tubs the |
| factual book about cars. If your child loves dolls, | | | | fastest. Encouraging children to read means |
| what about finding a book about dolls or fairies or | | | | introducing a strong entertainment factor and |
| mermaids? It is a good idea to take your child | | | | action usually means fun. |
| with you to the bookshop or library so that they | | | | If the book is about wild animals, pretend you are |
| can choose their own book. Playing on their | | | | one animal and the child is another and then play a |
| interests is one of the ways to encourage children | | | | game of who can run around the living room the |
| to read. | | | | quickest (give yourself a handicap, parents!). You |
| Sometimes parents reject a book that their child | | | | can introduce drama and excitement by making |
| has selected as being too easy or too hard but | | | | up a story about swimming across a fast flowing |
| the child has chosen the book for a reason of | | | | river (the sofa) or climbing up a high mountain |
| their own and when looking for ways to | | | | (the dining chair) and so on. |
| encourage children to read, it is essential that the | | | | The key is for children to enjoy what is being |
| child's opinions are taken seriously. It may be that | | | | read to them or what they are trying to read |
| they are simply attracted by the pictures and | | | | themselves. Like adults, they have their own likes |
| graphics. If you think the book is too difficult for | | | | and dislikes, and whilst these will change over |
| the child to understand, you can still make a good | | | | time, their current interests should be given |
| reading session with material that you might | | | | serious consideration when selecting reading |
| consider is not at the right level. Talk about and | | | | material. Presentation of the material should be |
| explain the pictures. For example, if the book is | | | | done in an exciting and entertaining way. Action is |
| about wild animals describe how different animals | | | | important to bring stories alive. Children's |
| have particular colourings and patterns on their | | | | expression of their opinions and thoughts should |
| skin or fur which helps them blend into their | | | | be encouraged. These factors will help make the |
| environment and that this helps them survive. | | | | association, in the child's mind, between books and |
| Talk about where they live, how they look after | | | | fun. |
| their young and, perhaps for older children, discuss | | | | |