Many of us probably already know that reading plays a significant role and is crucial for both individual and societal development. But did you know that it can have a significant positive impact on a child’s overall well-being and that parents can make reading at home a fun-filled experience for them? 2,4,5,6,8 

Yes, your child can greatly benefit from reading!

  • Reading can help with vocabulary and comprehension
  • Reading can help support improved cognitive development
  • Reading can serve as an excellent opportunity for parent–child bonding
  • Reading can help with memory and concentration
  • Reading can help promote creativity and imagination
  • Reading can help improve academic performance as a result of reaping all the above-mentioned benefits

Numerous studies have demonstrated how crucial it is to encourage reading habits in both children and adults. According to one of these studies, “Reading is essential and good reading habit is paramount as it equips an individual with necessary knowledge and understanding, not only for building his own life but also for contributing positively in the socio-economic development of the nation.1

Do you have a reading routine at home? How often does your child read at home? Do they find it enjoyable?  

As you consider these questions, you may also wonder, “My child reads at school, does it really need to be supported at home?” or “ What can I do to encourage my child to read at home?” or “How can I make reading fun for my child?

Read on to find out the answers to these questions!

Why Encouraging Your Child to Read at Home is Important?

Reading is one of the foundational skills of education that sets the stage for success in many other areas of development. Reading at home is just as important to children as reading at school.16,17 Staying on track with school and implementing various home-based strategies to assist your child in understanding what they are learning in school can help them perform better both academically and personally. Encouraging your child to read at home is one of the most basic yet effective strategies that you can use to support their education and ensure their future success.7,8 A research study conducted in partnership by the State Government of Victoria and the University of Melbourne, Australia also found that children that read at home with their parents perform better academically than others.2,12,13,14,15 Seeing family members read and write every day and using them for different purposes, such as reading newspaper, sharing stories from books, trying new recipes from recipe books, or reading street signs while driving, can help children realize the importance of reading. 

How to Support Reading at Home?

Another research study stated that children’s reading habits are influenced by their parents’ constant encouragement and motivation.3 Making “family reading routine” a fun and positive experience can be a great way to support your child’s success, boost their self-esteem, and inspire a lifelong love of reading. Here are some tips that can help you support reading at home.4,7,9,10,11

  • Set up a Reading Space and Schedule: Designate a small, quiet area of your home as your reading space. To make it more interesting, you can also build a tent out of cloth and have your child help decorate it, as well as stash some interesting books. This can help instill enthusiasm in your child and pique their interest in the reading activity. Set aside a consistent time each day to read, whether it be before bed or before dinner. This can help your child understand that this is an important activity that cannot be ignored. 
  • Allow Your Child to Choose Books While Visiting a Library or Bookstore: Whenever possible, take your child to a library or bookstore. Allow them to choose books of interest to them and recommend some if they are unsure. In order to decide whether they want to pick up the book or not, you can also suggest that they read the summary. Not only will they gain some reading experience from doing this, but they may also feel more in charge and confident, and it might even make it easier for them to decide which books to choose and identify the ones they’re interested in.
  • Make Reading More Interesting: Read aloud with your child. If there are characters, choose one at a time and change your voice tone or emphasize certain emotions while reading. This can help your child become more interested in the book. They may even begin to imagine the story’s characters and plots. After reading, take a break and talk about the book with your child. Pose thought-provoking book-related questions, such as “What is your take-away from the book?” “Did you enjoy the story? If not, what would have made it better?” As your child attempts to answer your questions, this can help develop logic, thinking, and creative skills in them. You can also read books based on movies and make a pact to watch them with your child after reading them.
  • Become a Reading Role Model for Your Child: Children’s primary role models are their parents. They observe and follow most of what their parents do at home. You can teach your child the value of reading by reading to, with, and in front of them whenever possible. Doing this can also help you to show them that reading can be relaxing and enjoyable.
  • Set up a Book Swap With Your Family, Friends, and Neighbors: Organizing a book swap can help your child learn what a book community is, get them involved in exchanging, reading, and discussing books with others, and can help them see it as a chance to explore the world of books and read more without seeing it as a chore.

Now, get started and give these tips a shot to see if they can help you support reading at home while also making it a relaxing and enjoyable activity for your child.

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For more tips on parenting, visit Byju’s FutureSchool Blog.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this site is NOT medical advice and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, provide medical or behavioral advice, treat, prevent, or cure any disease, condition, or behavior. You should consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding your child’s development to make a medical diagnosis, determine a treatment for a medical condition, or obtain other related advice.

References

  1. Dorathy Agbo, A., & Chukwudi Patrick, M. (2021). Developing Reading Habit in Children through Effective School Library Services in Nigeria. Jewel Journal of Librarianship, 16, 2736–0881. Retrieved on January 4, 2023, from https://www.jeweljournals.com/admin/published/9001847608.pdf 
  2.  Reading to Young Children: A Head-Start in Life Key Findings. (n.d.).Retrieved on January 4, 2023, from https://www.education.vic.gov.au/documents/about/research/readtoyoungchild.pdf 
  3. Ahmad, Z. (n.d.). Exploring the Factors Affecting the Development of Reading Habits among Children. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Qaiser-Iqbal-7/publication/355497615_Exploring_the_Factors_Affecting_the_Development_of_Reading_Habits_among_Children/links/6176505f3c987366c3e2763d/Exploring-the-Factors-Affecting-the-Development-of-Reading-Habits-among-Children.pdf
  4. Chettri. K & Rout S.K. (2013). Reading Habits-An Overview. (n.d.).IOSR Journal Of Humanities And Social Science (IOSR-JHSS), Volume 14 (6), PP 13-17. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jhss/papers/Vol14-issue6/C01461317.pdf 
  5. Shea, M., & Ceprano, M. (2017). Reading with Understanding: A Global Expectation. Journal of Inquiry & Action in Education, 9(1). Retrieved on January 5, 2023, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1158259.pdf 
  6. Cunningham, A. & Stanovich, K.(2001). What Reading Does for the Mind. Journal of Direct Instruction, Vol. 1 (2) pp 137-149, Retrieved January 5, 2023, from http://oregonliteracypd.uoregon.edu/sites/default/files/topic_documents/16-R1-Cunningham_0.pdf 
  7. Ahmad, Zaheer & Najmi, Tariq & Muhammad, Shahzad & Chaudhry, Muhammad & Ramzan, Muhammad. (2020). Parent’s Role in Promoting Reading Habits among Children: An Empirical Examination. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346050017_Parent’s_Role_in_Promoting_Reading_Habits_among_Children_An_Empirical_Examination 
  8. Taha, A. M. (2021). Reading Habits Among Students and Their Effect on their Academic Performance: A Study of Students of a Public School in Al Ain City in the UAE. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.globalscientificjournal.com/researchpaper/Reading_Habits_Among_Students_and_Their_Effect_on_their_Academic_Performance_A_Study_of_Students_of_a_Public_School_in_Al_Ain_City_in_the_UAE.pdf 
  9. Wells, L. (2016). Benefits of Reading at Home. Berkeley Public Schools. Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.berkeleyschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/V3.0-Benefits-of-Reading-at-Home-2.pdf 
  10. Elish-Piper, L. (2011). Promoting a love of reading at home. Illinois Reading Council Journal, 39(2), 52-55.Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.cedu.niu.edu/literacy-clinic/resources/raising-readers/love-of-reading-K-5.pdf 
  11. 8 ways to encourage reading at home | British Council. (n.d.). Retrieved January 5, 2023, from https://www.britishcouncil.my/english/courses-children/resources/encourage-reading-at-home 
  12. Đurišić, M., & Bunijevac, M. (2017). Parental Involvement as a Important Factor for Successful Education. 7. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1156936.pdf 
  13. Pediatrics Group to Recommend Reading Aloud to Children From Birth – The New York Times. (n.d.). Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/us/pediatrics-group-to-recommend-reading-aloud-to-children-from-birth.html 
  14. The importance of reading to kids daily. (n.d.). Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://ehe.osu.edu/news/listing/importance-reading-kids-daily-0 
  15. Logan, J. A. R., Justice, L. M., Yumuş, M., & Chaparro-Moreno, L. J. (2019). When Children Are Not Read to at Home: The Million Word Gap. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 40(5), 383–386. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000657 
  16. Clark, C., & Rumbold, K. (2006). Reading for pleasure: A research overview. Retrieved January 6, 2023, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED496343.pdf 
  17. Taylor, B. M., & Pearson, P. D. (2004). Research on Learning to Read—at School, at Home, and in the Community. Https://Doi.Org/10.1086/428863, 105(2), 167–181. https://doi.org/10.1086/428863