5 minutes
Reading has countless benefits, especially when cultivated as a habit from an early age. It stimulates imagination, helps children learn and entertain themselves, and supports their concentration.
However, according to a report published by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, more than half of young people in Latin America and the Caribbean do not achieve the required reading proficiency levels by the time they finish secondary education.
In total, 19 million adolescents are in this situation. To develop children's interest in reading and help reverse this situation, a love of reading must be encouraged at home.
Five basic tips for encouraging reading
1 Freedom of choice
Children can exercise judgment and should be allowed to choose the books they want to read. Imposing choices is a poor way to encourage reading. Parents are advised to suggest books that nurture their children's curiosity, but they should never forbid or force them to read a particular book.
The Planeta Lector website recommends reading by educational level, with reviews and reading guides that can be very useful when choosing a book.
2 Do not impose reading
Be creative here and use rewards to encourage reading. Forcing children to read for a set amount of time every day will only make them hate reading rather than see it as a pastime or hobby.
3 Treat reading as a game
One major difficulty in encouraging reading is that books have always been associated with schoolwork.
Showing the friendly, playful side of books and letting children enter the world of reading on their own is the best way to encourage their interest.
4 Read in creative spaces
It is advisable to leave the bedroom desk behind and look for places that nurture imagination.
Libraries are ideal places to read and study, but we must not forget that parks and other outdoor spaces are also perfect for enjoying a book, preferably with parents.
5 Establish a daily routine
Find a place and time each day for children to spend reading, such as before bed or just after their afternoon snack. Creating a habit and helping children associate that time with fun is the best way to encourage reading.
6 Open the door to digital reading
Reading and the digital world are increasingly connected. Tablets and mobile phones have brought interactive books in which children create their own stories. We should try to adapt to new technologies and recognize that paper and electronic ink can coexist perfectly well.
7 Encourage enjoyment
Reading can be seen as a source of enjoyment, and the widespread idea that it is a solitary leisure activity must be dispelled. Taking countryside trips to read, going to the park, or using Sunday mornings to read together on the sofa are small gestures that adults and children alike will enjoy and that help encourage reading at home.
8 Take an interest in their reading
A good way to encourage reading is to become involved in what children read: remember their favorite titles, characters, and genres. This encourages them to keep reading and helps them feel appreciated.
9 Foster their imagination by encouraging them to write their own stories.
Reading sends the imagination soaring, and the best outlet for that creativity is to encourage children to sit down and write. These activities also help children improve other areas such as creativity, grammar, and spelling, making learning educational and interactive.
10 Lead by example.
Setting an example is the best way to promote reading among young children. Children look for examples to follow, and their first role models are at home—not just their parents, but other family members too.
“An interest in reading must be encouraged and instilled from a very young age. Encouraging this habit of leisure and growth at home should involve every family member.”
Sergio Díez, a university-trained reading promotion specialist and librarian at Brains International Schools.
Resources for encouraging reading
New technologies can help encourage students to discover books because they are motivating and interactive. The following resources will help you achieve this:
1. Book recommendations on PlanetaLector
This comprehensive website recommends reading by educational level, with reviews and reading guides that can be very useful when choosing a book.
2. Caja de las palabras mágicas
Playful activities, stories, and ideas to encourage reading in primary school.
3. Project: 9 months, 9 stories
The classroom library is a magical space in every classroom, enabling children to create, dream, imagine, tell stories, and talk—essential activities in their development. To make the most of this area, the ‘9 months, 9 stories’ project encourages spontaneity and respect for each student's pace through motivation.
How do you encourage reading among your students? Do you know any useful resources or techniques? Go ahead and share them with us!
Source: El Confidencial