Reading with your kids and storytelling at night are both critical in preserving the history, developing young ones' healthy minds, and of course, the setting of your children's interest in reading.
Many parents try to encourage their kids to read, but the effectiveness of rewards and incentives may die along the way. And parents have wanted to try something new that can be the best of help to get your kids to read. Here are some sneaky ways you can try for your kids to read more.
Get your kids to read with these sneaky ways
1. Subtitles
every time you add subtitles to their favorite cartoon or movies, you are getting your kids to read without them realizing it. Apart from reading, they also benefit from hearing the words, especially for those with learning differences.
2. Storytelling
You don't have to read to them only before bedtime. You can also work on storytelling with your kids while driving by playing ebooks while on the road. You can later retell the stories they have heard and then ask them relevant questions about the stories. This way, you are encouraging them to listen intently the next time around.
3. Create
Challenge your kids to create something like a board game or their version of storybooks. Let them research their preferred topics and provide them with rules on writing correctly the stories they like. Give your kids hands-on activities that will get them reading while improving their writing simultaneously.
4. Inject humor
Stories that rhyme leave an impression on some kids. They are easy to remember as they inject humor and tend to have a whimsical feel.
Whenever reading this kind of book with your children, try to be funny as possible. You can try putting some actions too while reading it aloud or even do different voices for the characters. Your kids will mock you but in an amusing way, turning reading into a delightful hobby.
5. Leaving materials in their spaces
It is a good idea to allot a space where your children can play, study, and work on their hobbies. For example, you only have one space in the house to cook and prepare meals — the kitchen. With a dedicated reading area, you are subtly telling your children that it is healthy to read.
Try going to a comic book store and get some colorful and fun reading materials. You could leave them in their designated reading area or even in their play area. While your kids wait for you to play with them, they can pull out the comic books you left in the space without them noticing they are reading.
6. Dedicate some time
Set aside time for you and your kids to read together. Especially when you cannot be consistent during bedtime, at least spend time for a least 15 minutes a day reading with them and making it a routine.
7. Let them choose
Whenever you plan to read with your kids, do not focus on what you only like to read for them. Start teaching them to choose the book they want to read by bringing them to bookstores and exposing them to various options. As they decide what they want to read for themselves, they will be more eager to read.
However, be mindful of what they buy at the bookstore and make sure that they are reading something age-appropriate.
8. Go Digital
If you find your kids spending more time on the screen than on paper, then download some books for them. This way, you don't appear as restricting them from using their gadgets. You can even use stories that have flashing images so they can attract their attention. Since gadgets seem to be more entertaining to some people, this will give children the notion that reading is not a task but an enjoyable hobby.
