Top 10 Ways to Raise an Avid Reader, Part 2

I hope that you've had a chance to stop by the library since you read my first five ways to raise an avid reader! Here is the rest of the list, which I reserve the right to add to from time to time:

6.  Have a special time and place to read with, or alongside, your child every day (or at least 5 days per week). Make it something they'll look forward to.

My family used to read in bed with our pajamas on every night. Many times, I'd be ready to go to sleep, but my children would beg to read another book! Small children love to cuddle up with you, even if it's on the floor or couch. Even when children read on their own, it's nice to read alongside them and/or in the same room.

7.  If you're not home, ask someone else to read with your child! Encourage dads, grandparents, caregivers, and even older siblings to do so. That way, your child is being exposed to different read aloud styles and reading materials.

8. Take turns in selecting a variety of materials to read. Picture books, chapter books, magazines, and newspaper articles (even local ones) are all wonderful options for children of all ages.

While it's always helpful to read at their level (especially while they're learning to read), it's also important to read aloud more advanced material on a regular basis. Great books, like E.B. White's Charlotte's Web, are written so beautifully, and children and adults of all ages will enjoy them. Children need to hear more sophisticated language once in a while.

Don't rush away from picture books, though! There are so many beautifully written picture books which have museum quality illustrations, and in recent years, more of them have been written specifically for readers in the intermediate grades. I also find that the vocabulary in picture books is often more advanced than in chapter books for newly independent readers. So, even if your child has just started reading independently, you don't want to miss out on these wonderful resources!

For another opinion concerning picture books, you can find a great post at Mother Reader.  

By the way, it counts when you read recipes, food labels, and web site articles as well. The important thing is to make sure that you're surrounding your child with a wide variety of reading materials.

9. Take turns reading with your child. Even if your child can't read yet, he or she can "tell" you a story based upon the pictures. Early language and speaking skills are so important, and children love to tell stories!

Newly independent readers also will love to take turns with you. I remember reading the "We Both Read" series of books with my children.  If your child is starting to read on his or her own, these books make it easy to alternate reading each page with your child (the parent side has more difficult words). One of these books is called The Well-Mannered Monster (We Both Read), and a variety of writers contributes to this series by Treasure Bay publishers. Please note that I have not read many of these books (they've added so many recently), but my children enjoyed the few that were available when they first started reading.

A note about "beginning reader" books:  When my children first started reading, I found that many early reading books contained words that could not be sounded out very easily.  It is very frustrating for a child to try to sound out a word that contains letters that do not sound the way they should! If anyone can recommend a series that manages to avoid this situation, please feel free to share!

10.  Once your child is reading, do not stop seeking out reading material for him or her! Academic reading is not the same as reading for pleasure. Sometimes it's not easy to find books of interest.  That's why it's important to help your child to discover favorite subjects and authors. If your librarian can't make a suggestion, then try asking a friend!

Also, I do a lot of research on the public library web site. Gone are the days of card catalogs, and now it's easy to request books that aren't even at your specific library.  You can also find some wonderful suggestions online at web sites like The Reading Tub and blogs like Jen Robinson's Book Page (I just found some wonderful teenage book selections there).

11. Help your child to find ways to connect books with her or his own life, as well as other books, movies, and real life situations. For example, it's great to read a book right before the related movie comes out. Reading the book requires your child to use his or her imagination, and it'll be fun to compare the book with the movie. I couldn't help but add an extra item on the list, and I'm sure I'll think of more!

So, the important thing to remember here is to make reading fun for your child. The minute it seems like work, the less your child will enjoy it. There are books out there for every child that are just waiting to be found! When your child does find a great book, why not recommend it to a friend? I've discovered some wonderful books through friends, and ones that I wouldn't have sought out on my own.

Would you like to comment on or add anything to this list? You can find Part 3 here.

Enjoy reading this week!