From the time our children were babies we read to them a lot, identifying pictures in books. Building their vocabulary, along with their love of books, one word, one page at a time. And it paid off! Our daughter could say many words by 9 months. And by the age of one, she was speaking in complete sentences! Our son, also an early starter, was only a little behind his sister.
As they grew, the books got longer and so did our reading time. We homeschooled, and I read aloud to the family every day after lunch. And we would often find them curled up with a book somewhere.
We traveled the world by reading the classics. Books like Robinson Crusoe, The Swiss Family Robinson, The Railway Children. and Lucy Maud Montgomery’s books.
And we laughed and cried through our favorite series. Like Tales from Grandma’s Attic, Anne of Green Gables, and the Louisa May Alcott books. I remember them crying when Pa from The Little House on the Prairie, walked in broken boots to find work.
They learned to immerse themselves in stories. And we were creating significant family bonds.
Benefits of reading:
11 benefits of this wholesome activity for your kids:
- Better language skills
- Increased logic and concentration
- Enhanced imagination, curiosity, and creativity
- Improved listening and social skills
- A thirst for knowledge
- More appreciation for books and stories
- Broadened horizons and a better understanding of the world
- Greater ability to distinguish between real and make-believe
- Enhanced capacity to understand challenging or scary events, and accept change
- Competence in schoolwork
- It may also encourage them to read God’s word
And most of all, because children who love to read are more likely to love knowledge and the written Word.
Friends have often wondered how we got our kids to read so much. But I don’t think we could have stopped them if we had tried! They loved it!
But if it was hard to get kids to read then, it’s even harder now with so many electronic distractions! So I’d like to share some tried and true, timeless tips for raising readers – even in our technological age!
7 timeless tips for raising avid readers:
1. Start young
Children have an innate hunger for knowledge and learning. And books, even picture books, can open up this new and wonderful world to them. Feed that appetite by reading to them, even as infants. (But if you didn’t start that young, don’t worry. It’s never too late to start!)
2. Children learn by example
Kids love to act like big people. If the adults in their lives love reading, chances are it will rub off on them!
3. Limit screen time and make it your ally
Screen time can be harmful, so it’s wise to limit it. Or provide them with plenty of ebooks and Kindle books so they’re at least usin their devices to read!
4. Make reading a special treat
Our weekly trip to the library became a special event. It was like making new friends or revisiting old ones! But we also added special treats. Doughnuts, ice cream, a trip to the park, or lunch out!
5. Provide reading material
There’s something appealing about an unopened, never-read book! What’s it about? Where will it take me? But you can’t expect kids to read if there’s nothing new and interesting to read. Keep building to your library!
6. Make it a family activity
Children also have an intense desire for family time. Family activities help them feel that they are a wanted and important part of the family.
We continued family reading time into our kids’ teen years. And they loved it so much they often requested a second chapter!
7. Teach them that great books are friends for life
Friends they can visit again and again. For a truly great book never grows old. Its meaning only grows richer with each passing year.
A truly great book should be read in youth, again in maturity and once more in old age, as a fine building should be seen by morning light, at noon and by moonlight.
Robertson Davies
📷 Image credits: girl reading; child with books
Signora Sheila 
8 responses to “Raising Readers in a Technological Era”
All three of our granddaughters love books, thanks in large part to their parents who put a high premium on reading. It’s one of life’s great pleasures to snuggle up with a child and read. Now that they’re older, we can discuss books too–the characters’ attributes and motivations, plot twists we didn’t expect, and takeaways that stories provide. So much pleasure to be gained through books!
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Yes indeed, Nancy. Books are a great treasure and pleasure. Both reading them to the kids – and just curling up with one all on our own. They really do remain lifelong friends!!
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What a wonderful message! I enjoy reading my books for children to our grandchildren and the neighborhood children. I read the stories to preschools, too. Licky the Lizard and Grumpy the Gator are big hits with young and old. :-)
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That’s fantastic, Mimi! Books are such a delight and can bring so much knowledge and growth. I’m glad your books are doing well!! What a blessing for the kids you know and others too!! May Licky and Grumpy travel the world round to enrich the lives of children everywhere!!
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I heartily agree! Books are vessels of adventure, paths toward unknown journeys, introductions to new and different friends. Reading was an escape for me–and it has become a place of understanding and growth for my kids and grandkids. Our imaginations are piqued by what we read, and what we don’t see in a picture, our minds conjure up in satisfying ways. Thanks for this, Sheila!
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Oh yes, Dayle! Oh the things we and learn see, the adventures we have, the trips we take…and all with nothing more than a book in our hands!! I hope we can pass this love on to future generations!!
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Simple but effective steps to help children realize the love of reading. I like the ‘Lead by Example’ way to encourage the children read.
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Thanks twmomme! Example really does go a long way!!
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