In this article, I will address the subject of how parents can help their children to enjoy reading books, even in our day and age of TV and computer games, and introduce three specific tools they can use: Book Discussion, Role-Playing Reading, and Family Newspaper.
Is it even possible to teach a child to enjoy books and reading in our days of TV, computers, Internet and video games? I think it is, and I know many families that have successfully done it. Obviously, the best way to go is to start early, when your children are young, and then keep doing it, making reading together one of your family traditions. You start by reading to your children, then gradually switch to reading with them as they learn their letters. If you choose good, interesting books, your children will keep asking you to read more, and as soon as they realize that they can now do it themselves – boom! You’ve got yourself a little booklover.
But what if you didn’t start early, and now your kids prefer watching TV or playing computer games? Can you still turn them around? Well, you will need to be more creative – and committed. More persistent, perhaps, since you now have to compete with the powerful entertainment industry. But the hope is not lost. Children need and want a closer relationship with their parents. The TV set will never replace you. Family reading can be one of the most exciting and heart-warming experiences you and your children will have together, and in this article I will show you several different ways you can use to make it happen.