Books are the calmest and most constant friends; they are the most approachable and wise counselors and the most patient teachers. ~ Charles W. Eliot

Charles Eliot had the correct facts. Anyone who has become friends with the written word will never feel lonely. All book lovers know that they can live multiple lives, travel to countless places, and do countless things through their books. You get to see someone else’s perspective and discover that you are not the absolute authority on the subject.

Today our living rooms have been invaded by television and computers. Children spend all their free time glued to any of them.

Books teach children a lot. They expand their vocabulary, helping them later in life. The command of the language increases many times. Give a boost to the child’s imagination, letting the mind go to the unthinkable and increasing creativity. Reading about many things greatly improves a child’s knowledge. Say, for example, you learn more about Africa but by reading an interesting story than by dry textbooks.

Parents despair, trying to introduce them to the wonderful world of books. However, all is not lost with a little common sense, a little patience and a lot of love, parents can introduce good reading habits to their children.

Set a time to read

Set aside about half an hour a day as reading time. This can be right before bed or at any other time that is suitable for both of you. Initially, let them read the books that you told them when they were children. The plot will be familiar to you and the words will be easy for you to distinguish.

Start young

Interest in books cannot be generated overnight. It is a slow process in which the child learns to fall in love with the enchanted world of the written world. If the habit of reading is instilled as early as possible, this will develop slowly as the child grows. Parents should start as soon as the child can understand. Read stories to your two-year-old. Gradually remove this storytelling to story reading.

Small steps

Parents must be realistic in their expectations. Do not think that the child will begin to read the first time the book is held in his hands. The first few times may fail with pronunciation. Correct them gently. They can even read the whole page without understanding a word. Instantly explaining the whole book to them, making their brains work. Ask simple questions about the story. Eventually they will learn to decipher books.

Read

It is very important to teach children by example. Make sure children see you read. If you read books, your children will automatically do the same. It is very difficult to convince a child to read copiously if the parents never pick up a book. Not only will it be an inspiration, but children will also find reading together a lot of fun.

Get books on topics of interest

If your child is a big Pooh fan, get yourself some books on that character. Markets abound with a variety of things related to cartoons. Do a little market research and get the books for the particular character. Make sure the books are colorful and picturesque. The print should be large, as reading small print can be tedious. Check the books before you buy. Words must be at a level that your child can understand. Books that are too easy or too difficult distract children very easily.

Install aids

There are many support aids that parents can use to encourage reading. Install a bulletin board and put cartoons with funny comments on it. Put up a little poem or poetry for your child to read. You can also get a set of audiobooks. It has a story on tape along with the printed book. Children can pick up the nuances of pronunciation while reading. Put notes in the Tiffin box. Get vocabulary building games on the computer.

Universal reading time

Don’t restrict reading to the confines of your room. Use the abundance of words that float around us. Point out the words on billboards along the way. Ask the child to read the credits on the movie poster. Counting the newspaper headlines is a great way to learn. While you wait for the doctor to arrive, you can read the brochures. In the restaurant, let them read the menu and decide the order. Ask them to decipher the instructions for the new game.

Do not push

Try all of this in a very casual way. If the child feels pushed to read, he will stop like an inflexible horse. It should all look like a tremendously interesting game. Remember Tom Sawyer! Say, for example, while you’re waiting for the doctor, don’t push the brochure into the children’s hand and order her to read too. Instead, say very, very casually (a bored voice is a must), “There are four words that start with ch in this booklet.” Immediately, the child will try to discover the fact for himself and will find a few more words to start with.

These techniques are only general aids to help children read more. As a parent, you need to be enthusiastic about your new activity. Correct them gently, when they are wrong. Show enthusiasm and appreciation when the child wants to read. It is a good idea to buy books as a gift and incentive. Discuss the book the child just read. Talk about their favorite character in the book. If there is a movie about the particular book, be sure to bring it to it.

Don’t force yourself, guide. As soon as the child learns that he MUST read, it becomes another subject of study, a tedious task. Reading should be presented as a delightful pastime and not as a harsh punishment.

So go ahead and introduce your kids to the written word and they’ll never feel alone again.