7 Ways to Foster a Child's Love of Reading

Reading is a wonderful thing. One of the ways to spend time pleasantly is to pick up a book, cozy up in an armchair and escape from reality to another place, time or even another world for a while. On the pages of a variety of literary works you can find your desires and dreams, fascinating ideas and sources of inspiration, valuable information and useful experience. All of this is available not only to you, but also to your children.

However, in today’s world, children are exposed to many distractions, which makes it much more difficult for parents to do such a noble task as instilling in their child a love of reading good literature. Books today have a huge number of competitors: gadgets, technology, active social life. So you will have to try hard if you want your children’s eyes to light up at the mere thought of reading.

There are several effective steps parents can take to make their child want to consciously give up a game console or social media in favor of an interesting book. Your child may be six months old or six years old, it’s never too late to start fostering a love of reading that will stay with them as they transition into adulthood.

Start as early as possible.
The earlier you begin to instill a love of books and the process of reading, the easier it will be for you to maintain this beneficial attachment later on. Even if your child can’t read on their own yet, read to them yourself. No child is too young to read. Just choose age-appropriate books for your baby and get him or her used to reading with you.
Visit libraries together.
The library is often the place where children first become interested in books. Take your child to your local library or bookstore regularly so they can get used to the atmosphere at those bookstores from an early age. If you sign your child up at a library that is appropriate for his age, he can meet like-minded children and other children who love books.
Don’t force or impose your opinion. If you want your child to really enjoy reading, let them choose works that interest them. By giving them this choice, you’ll increase the chances that your child will love reading. Coercion in this situation, on the contrary, can discourage children from taking a book in their hands.

Become a good example
It is parents who have the strongest influence on children, their behavior and habits, especially at an early age. So be a good example for your child to want to imitate. Let him see how you yourself read books and enjoy them. If your child regularly watches you immerse yourself in the world of literary works, sooner or later he himself will want to pick up a book and join you.
Develop a habit.
Habits are what shape our behavior. Turn reading into a ritual by making it an integral part of every day. If your child is young, read to him or her at the same time every day, for example, before going to bed or after a morning bath. Make sure to link this healthy habit with some positive activities to keep it interesting.
Add some fun
There are many interesting games related to reading, individual literary works and their characters. For example, these can be fun board games, perfect for family fun. Various digital options are also available to you: educational apps or special colorful websites for children reading books.
Support your child
Children need to feel supported by people who are important to them, i.e. their parents. When your child starts actively reading books, show them how much you care about their passions and desires. Give him a long dream work, buy him a beautiful desk lamp or give him a special place to read and make it as comfortable as possible. Children feel much more confident and motivated when they feel supported by their parents.