Making Reading Fun =)

It's vital to make reading fun for kids. If reading becomes an arduous, difficult tasks children will grow to resent reading; and if we're not careful, that resentment may carry on through their lives slowing their progression. It's our job to make reading something enjoyable to them - something that they look forward to, not dread. In reality reading is fun, it's one of lives simplest pleasures and it's up to us to pass that on to our children.

Robin McClure, the host for About.com's Child Care portion, has some great ideas to help reveal the joys of reading to our children. One of her great ideas is to incorporate things familiar to them in the books you read. Often we do this with things such as cars (or vehicles) and animals, but then we run out of these things. Broaden your spectrum! As Ms. McClure suggests, how about something like the flowerbed (or garden) that is at your home or a place that you're travelling to or a friend/family lives. How about the seasons changing, holiday themes, people working in your neighborhood (mail person, construction worker, etc.)? Why not making it fun and learning experience - not only about reading, but about things in their lives, as well?

Another great suggestion that is so simple, but so relevant is getting your child's feedback on what they would like to read. Ask them how they enjoyed a book, what books they enjoy, and throughout the day make a list of things that draw their interest so you can take note for the next trip to the library.

Reading is the gift of a lifetime, but we need to make sure that we set the right framework to make that happen.

Great Ways to Read to Your Children

With all of the time constraints for families there's increasing pressure to skip or lessen the time we spend with our children. Don't let that happen! As we know, reading to your children is one of the most important activities to do wit your children daily. An article from the University of Idaho documents some creative ways that you can read to your children, if you aren't available at bedtime, as other innovative ways to encourage reading.

If you're away at bedtime, the article gives the ideas of taping yourself reading or reading a book over the phone (something very feasible if you print a couple of copies of books for free from Readsake). And, of course as they remind us, bedtime isn't the only time to read - bring a book with you as you run errands and take advantage of waiting times by reading together.

To encourage reading Peggy McClendon, Read to Me Co-Coordinator, Idaho State Library; and Harriet Shaklee, Family Development Specialist, University of Idaho Extension; remind us to read with our children throughout the day - things like cereal boxes, road signs and billboards. They also suggest doing book exchanges with other kids and making them exciting by wrapping up the books.