8 WAYS PARENTS CAN PROMOTE READING AT HOME!!
1. Read Yourself. Your actions really do speak louder than your words. When
your kids see you reading the newspapers or curing up with a book, they will
want to follow your example.
2. Make sure your children read every day. Reading - like shooting baskets
and playing the piano - is a skill. Like other skills, it gets better with
practice. Researchers have found that children who spend at least 30 minutes
a day reading for fun - whether they read books, newspapers, or magazines -
develop the skills to be better readers at school.
3. Get the library habit. Make sure everyone in your family has a library
card. Schedule regular trips to the library. While you are there, check out
book yourself!
4. Read aloud to the children. In *The Read Aloud Handbook*, Jim Trelease
reports on research showing that this the most important thing parents can do
to help their children become better readers. Here are some tips from the book:
* Start reading to your children when they are young. It is never too
early to begin reading to your children, according to Trelease.
* Don't stop reading to your children as they grow older. You will both
enjoy the chance to do something together.
* Set aside some time each day for reading aloud. Even 10 minutes a day
can have a big impact. Other busy families read aloud at breakfast or just
after dinner.
* Read books you enjoy. Your kids will know if you are faking it.
5. Here is a way to use your newspaper to encourage reading: a scavenger
hunt. Give your child a list of things to find in today's newspaper. Here
are some ideas:
* A map of the United States.
* A picture of your child's favorite athlete.
* The temperature in the city where a family member lives.
* Three words that begin with "W".
* A movie that is playing at a nearby theater.
6. Give books as gifts. Then find a special place for your chldren to keep
their own library.
7. Make reading a privilege. Say, "You can stay up 15 minutes later tonight
if you read in bed." Or you might say, "Because you helped with the dishes, I
have time to read you an extra story."
8. If you are not a good reader, you can still encourage your children. As
your children learn to read, ask them to read to you. Talk about the books
your children have read. Ask a friend or relative to read aloud to your children.
