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Reading is an important aspect of growth and development. Not only are basic reading skills almost essential to function in society later in life, but reading also helps to stimulate imagination, to develop excellence in education and to increase logic and thinking skills. With the technology becoming increasingly available, such as video games and television, it is often difficult to get children interested in reading. Here are four effective ways to get children excited about reading.
1. Get them hooked on a popular book series
One of the most effective ways to get kids interested in reading, especially older children is to get them hooked on a book series. The children develop an interest in the way that the story progresses and the characters. This encourages them to read more to find out what happens next, and the enjoyment they gain from the series is often enough to spur their interest and excitement in reading. The Harry Potter book series is a fantastic example of this, and it served to introduce many children to the joys of reading. Although many of the later books in the series are very long, children around the world read them anxiously. Other book series that can be effective at this are the Maximum Ride and Alex Cross series, both written by James Patterson, and the Percy Jackson series.
2. Introduce them to visually interesting and entertaining books
For younger children, particularly those who are just beginning to learn to read, books that are visually stimulating and amusing can be a way of securing a life-long enthusiasm for reading. Many such books have such an impact that parents still remember with fondness books that they were introduced to when they were young. One such book is
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. This book is relatively famous and is filled with interesting information. Another book is
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? This book captures young readers attention both through the rhyming language and the animal illustrations prevalent throughout the book.
3. Use of reward programs
Some schools, families and libraries introduce rewards-based programs that aim to encourage children to read. This often requires children to keep a journal of the books that they have read, or to read certain books on a list. At the end of a certain period, the children are then rewarded for their progress, with the value of the reward being related to the number of books that they read. This strategy can stir excitement in children, giving them a tangible reward and a specific goal to work towards.
4. Get them involved in the library
Libraries are fantastic locations to develop children’s interest and excitement in reading. There are many different activities for children of all ages, such as visits by authors and reading sessions. The process of getting a child a reading card and helping them to pick out a few books to take home each week can be an effective way of making them interested. There are so many books to choose from at the library that children can spend hours getting lost in the shelves, finding what is interesting to them.
No matter how you approach it, reading is an important aspect of a child’s development and plays a crucial role in their later life. While it may sometimes be hard to get a child excited about reading, it is well worthwhile, as they gain much from it. The four tips suggested in this article are good ways to spark children’s interest and excitement in reading.
