Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev
Every child is different. Some like nothing better than to sit quietly with a good book, while others are more boisterous and prefer active play. Both of these two extremes are a good thing, but the best way to help your child to grow up into a well-rounded adult is to encourage a balance.
Nowadays, children who are sitting quietly are more likely to be staring at a device watching videos or scrolling through social media than reading a good book. However, offline activities like reading shouldn’t become a thing of the past.
The Importance of Reading
Reading is an important life skill for children and adults alike. Children must learn how to read, as it helps them through their education and allows them to navigate life as they grow older. While learning the basics of reading is necessary, your children will fare far better as they get into more complex books and develop their skills further.
The skill of reading will help your child to understand the world around them, but it also exposes them to experiences, stories, and vocabulary that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to understand. Children can learn empathy as they follow a character’s story, and learn how to think logically as they work through certain stories.
They can also grow their imagination and creativity, as they imagine whole new worlds. It’s been said that reading is an exercise for the brain in the same way that running is an exercise for the body. Both help people to become happier and healthier.
Helping Your Child Learn
Learning to read isn’t something that just happens. It requires effort and patience from both parties. For some parents, it’s difficult to help their children as they struggle, especially if reading seems natural to them.
Just because you were able to power through the Lord of the Rings books at the tender age of seven, it doesn’t mean that your child is the same. Most children need to start with easier, more age-appropriate reading material so that they can practice without it becoming a chore.
Thankfully, there are tools to help children to naturally develop their reading skills. Books designed to help children develop skills like decoding phonics and breaking down complex vocabulary aren’t just enjoyable for your children, but they’re also helpful. Many come with lesson plans so that you can take an active role in helping your child to learn.
Making Reading Fun
Believe it or not, most children don’t appreciate being ordered to sit down a read certain books at certain times. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to make reading fun. This will mean that they’re more likely to read independently, which will help them to learn and develop their reading skills much faster.
Pick out books with your child, choosing things that would interest them. When they’re young, read stories to them so that they get used to being in another world. Even tools like audiobooks can help children to appreciate stories without feeling like it’s a chore.