How to make your child read: helpful tips

The pace of modern life is accelerating, and in this frantic rhythm there is no time left for the simplest, but such an important lesson is reading. Today, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a student of his own free will, who reads with interest and enthusiastically, as his parents once did. A few decades ago, books were the only source of information - people read them in search of entertainment, education, in search of the necessary data and even the meaning of life. What happened today? Why did children stop being interested in books? In this article we will talk about this global problem - the reasons for its development and ways to solve it.

Why did children stop reading

Many adults remember their childhood - how their parents forbade them to read, limited the time spent reading a book in order to maintain healthy eyes. But we still read - everywhere and always, with a flashlight under the covers, around the corner of the door so that my mother would not see. What is today? Children are not keen on reading, a book for them is a punishment for some kind of misconduct. Why has the situation changed radically?

1. Digital reality. The first and most important reason that children have stopped reading books is a different way of perceiving. Why would a child read, strain his imagination and fantasy if television and computers can reproduce this reality for him? Children today receive much more information than we once at their age. It’s just that the information comes to them in a different form - through computers, tablets, television.
2. Apple from the apple tree. Sometimes children do not read, simply because there is no person with a book in their environment. If the baby lives with parents who have no habit of sitting in the evening for their favorite detective story or romance, the child simply does not know that there are books and they can be fun.
3. Strange words. Sometimes a child refuses to read if there are a lot of obscure, and often outdated, words in the text. And it occurs, literally from childhood. Well, how can a child be interested in a bunny with his "bast" hut, if the kid doesn’t know a word like that. Not to mention more serious expressions.
4. Books are not of age. Sometimes parents try to grow child prodigies from kids, presenting them with increasingly complex books. However, the preschooler does not understand the experiences of Count Monte Cristo, he simply does not understand what the book is about, but for the time being. Each age should have its own books that captivate the reader.
5. Condemnation of peers. Everyone knows how children can be cruel and insidious. And, having once seen a peer behind a book, they can accuse him of excessive exemplaryness, call him a "nerd." The child, trying to hide this "flaw", gradually abandons the book, preferring to accept information from other sources.
6. Compulsion. Parents themselves often dislike books when they equate reading with punishment. That is, they say - “Broke a vase? Now sit in your room and read 20 pages of text. ” Time after time, the child learns to perceive reading as something bad, uninteresting, compelled. And the parents themselves are to blame.

At what age does a child need to instill a love of reading? As a rule, the interest in books in children wakes up at the age of 8-10, when the baby begins to read fluently on his own, realizing the action that occurs on paper pages. However, it is necessary to instill a love of reading and respect for the book from childhood, not allowing the baby to tear pages, draw on pictures. But why do modern children need reading?

The benefits of reading books

But most importantly, the book contributes to the formation of personality, teaches morality, and finds answers to many questions. From the classics, the child draws the right attitude to life, learns to distinguish good from evil, respect the elders, protect the younger ones. The child understands that evil is certainly punished, that life must be fair. Reading books is great fun, a safe way to have a good and good time. But how to convey all this to the child? How to arouse in him a love of the book?

How to motivate a child to read

Never force a child to read. Do not punish him with a book. From childhood, the baby should understand that reading is a pleasure, not a punishment. In no case do not force the child to read in response to some of his misconduct. On the contrary, tell the kid that today he is a great fellow, for having helped your grandmother and as a reward you will read together (or give him) a colorful and interesting book. The attitude to many life positions is laid in the child from childhood. And as you relate to the book, so the child will relate to it throughout his life.

1. Touch the book! Show your child the benefits of a paper book over digital media. You can touch the book, flip through its pages, feel the roughness of the paper, enjoy the aroma of fresh printing ink. That is what makes people still read paper books. Young children can buy interesting paper books with three-dimensional pictures that appear on the page when it is opened. A lot of tactile books with various irregularities and details. Teach your child to touch the pages - this is important.
2. Pick up books. Just one bad book can lead to a child refusing to read because of boredom. It is very important to choose a book according to the age, interests and preferences of the child. For example, children of primary school age can be offered the adventures of Dunno, and those who are older - the adventures of Tom Sawyer. If a child is interested in computer games, keep this in mind - the modern publishing house is full of books about computer heroes. It is important to choose what interests the child.
3. Read it for yourself. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get a child to do something if you don’t do it yourself. If mom and dad spend their free time reading a book, telling each other what they have read, admire the heroes and have fun, just like that, the baby will become infected. He will understand that the book is a window into the world that can be explored without getting off the couch. It is foolish to hope to read a child if you yourself spend the whole evening in front of the TV screen.
4. Keep books at home. Modern houses are arranged in such a way that there is no room for dusty, bulky and voluminous books, especially if all the same can be found electronically. If you want to raise a reading child, you need to have a bookcase in the house, or at least a shelf where the child could poke around. Treat books with respect - do not let small children play with them, explain to your child that the book cannot be torn, you cannot draw on it.
5. Develop your imagination. You can motivate the child to develop imagination with various fictional stories, stories.Compose fables and fairy tales together, let the child discover creative thinking in himself. With a good imagination, reading will be easier - the images will easily add up, reading will be interesting.
6. Learn poetry. A verse is that small dose of information that a child can master, understand and present on his own. Poems develop memory, arouse love for the syllable.
7. Filmstrips. Old filmstrips will help to make a little fussy read. Scrolling through the film, the baby will be interested in what is happening in the picture and will certainly want to understand what is happening in the plot. To do this, he will have to read the comment below the picture.
8. Play performances. For preschool children, the plot itself, dialogue, experiences, and actions are very interesting. Therefore, for interest, you can do small plays with your child and read in roles. By the way, this can be done before the baby learns to read.
9. Choose the time. Modern children have a much greater burden than their parents at a similar age. Today, almost all students have additional classes - sports sections, language courses, creative circles. Don't make a tired child come home. Choose free time to communicate with the book so that the baby is rested, interested and in a good mood. Only under these conditions can a child be instilled with a love of reading.
10. Joint reading. Choose a fascinating book and read it with your child before bedtime. Once again, stop at the most interesting moment and say that you will continue reading tomorrow. Impatience of the baby can lead to the fact that he himself will begin to learn the end of the story.

Reading is a very important stage in a child’s life. How did you teach your child to hold a spoon, go to the potty, change clothes - with the same importance and patience, you need to instill in your child a love of the book and the reading process. However, do not be so categorical - time changes, and children change.

Is reading so important in today's world?

A book is an opportunity to talk with a person from the past, relive his life, and feel his thoughts. A book is a true friend who always waits, never condemns and does not take offense for a long absence. This is an immersion in another world that seems to be reality. Love and read books, they have a lot of useful and interesting. And the child will certainly become your reflection.

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