AD – This post is in collaboration with Very and Roald Dahl
We are huge fans of reading books in this house and as a Mum of two, parenting blogger, book reviewer and avid reader; one of the questions I get asked most regularly is “How can I get my child to read?”.
For many parents, encouraging their child to read for pleasure can be a real challenge; with children resisting anything that feels like ‘school work’ or even claiming that books are boring! The reality is, books offer a huge number of benefits to children, not only in terms of their comprehension and vocabulary, but also their emotional wellbeing, mental health and even enhancing their sleep!
Here are our tips on how to get your child excited about reading!
Be a positive role model
Like many things in life, children often replicate their parents behaviour, so reading more books yourself is a great way of becoming a positive role model for your children. When a child sees their parents reading as a way to relax, switch off and sleep better, it reinforces the message that reading can be fun and makes them more inclined to pick up a book themselves.
Introduce them to your favourites
A great way to gain your child’s interest in reading is to introduce them to some of the books you read and enjoyed yourself as a child. In our house this started with Roger Hargreaves and his Mr Men collection, then as the girls got older, classics from Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl.
There is nothing more enjoyable than watching my daughters face as she reacts to some of the exciting storylines I loved so much as a child. From the moment where James takes his first bite into the Giant Peach, to the somewhat shocking impact of George’s Marvellous Medicine, there are some real magical moments to be shared together in Roald Dahl’s classic collection.
Create a reading nook
Creating a comfortable environment for your child to read in can be a great motivator and encourage them to settle down with their book. It can also help create a clear separation between reading for pleasure and school work or education.
Whether it’s a pillow fort, a den under the bed or a comfy corner with a duvet and pillows, you’ll be amazed the impact an asthetically pleasing reading nook can have on their willingness to read.
We absolutely love the new exclusive Roald Dahl range at Very.co.uk – from the beautifully designed Roald Dahl pyjamas and dressing gowns, to fun dressing up outfits and even bedding inspired by Roald Dahl’s stories, world’s and characters. There is no better feeling than getting snug under the covers before being whisked away into another world.
The collection is aimed at children aged from 3-10 years and prices start at just £15. Even better, profits from every sale of the Very.co.uk Roald Dahl collection will be going to reading charity Coram Beanstalk, helping children across the UK gain reading confidence through volunteer reader helpers and one-to-one sessions.
Read together
Reading aloud together with your child, even when your child is old enough to read alone, can be a really positive experience.
Having a bit of calm time before bed and reading a larger chapter book together with your child (a page or paragraph each) is a great way to share the experience and expose them to a wider variety of language and expression.
Reading together is also ideal for less confident readers who can follow along the text as their parent reads the words aloud, asking about any words they don’t understand to clarify their meaning.
Bring Books to Life
A really fun way to embrace the magic of reading is to bring a book to life, incorporating some other practical activities to celebrate the story that your child has read. From playing a game, to drawing a picture of their favourite character, dressing up or even settling down to watch the movie; there are lots of ways to reinforce the message that reading is fun.
When it comes to children’s fiction, many of favourite Roald Dahl books have been turned into FANTASTIC family friendly films – from the much loved Matilda (a personal fave), to the BFG, James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and (if they’re feeling brave enough) the recent adaptation of The Witches! You really are spoiled for choice.
Embrace different reading materials
It is true when people say that any reading is good reading, so don’t be fooled into thinking that your children should only be reading fiction. Whether it’s an educational magazine, a non-fiction text on a subject they are passionate about, or even searching for fun facts on Google; mix things up and you’ll soon see the benefits!
Changing around the reading material regularly can not only keep your child’s motivations for reading high, but improve their general knowledge too. We love reading along with our Yoto Player and there are a wide range of Roald Dahl classic yoto cards to choose from. You can also get Roald Dahl tonies characters if your child has a Toniebox. Listening to audio books can still encourage a love of reading but can be beneficial for more reluctant readers.
Celebrate Authors
Whether its dressing up as their favourite character for World Book Day or getting involved with specific author celebrations such as Roald Dahl Story Day, learning all about an author, their life story and the books they have published, is a great way to celebrate their favourite characters with other children across the globe.
Change Misconceptions
Finally, there is a common misconception amongst some Junior age kids that reading can be BORING. If they genuinely think that, the they simply haven’t found the right book.
Wait until they realise the places a book can take them. If they are reluctant to start reading, find books that match their interests – from dinosaurs, to fairies, ponies to footballers, saving the planet or heading on a magical mission. Spark their interest, get them hooked and introduce them to the adventures that can be found beneath the cover.
I asked my daughter Erin (Aged 8) what she loves about reading and this was her response.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I like reading because it feels like you are actually in the book and exploring new worlds. In books, lots of exciting things happen that might not happen in normal life. I get to go on fun adventures and meet new people. Books give me something to dream about!”[/perfectpullquote]
I hope you find these tips helpful.
Don’t forget you can check out the entire Roald Dahl collection at Very.co.uk here and support Beanstalk on their mission to get children reading with confidence!
Lucy
