Developing a reading habit in children sounds like a task in the digital era. How can we make it happen? Well, to do that, we must think like them. What motivated us to do something new when we were a child? What interested us the most? Yes, the timeline has changed, and so does the interest. Unlike today, mobile phones were not easily accessible to children during that time. But today, almost all children ages 2 to 4 know how to swipe through a smartphone or click the "skip ad" option on YouTube. Watching cartoons and eating food is their favourite activity now. So how can we make them shift from a smartphone to a book? Yes, this is not an easy journey; it's difficult but worth it. So, what attracts the kids to watch these cartoons in the first place? What if we provide an alternate solution for the colours, characters they can relate to, humour, etc.? A comic book. Comic books have pictures, colours and characters to which they can easily connect. But they won't turn to read a comic book suddenly. Here is what you can do in the starting phase of the journey.
Lead by example: Children are more likely to develop an interest in reading if they see adults enjoying books. Children love imitating their parents. Haven't you seen them imitate their grandparents- reading the newspaper, putting on their imaginary glasses, wrapping themselves in a stole in an attempt to wear a saree and walking with a stick around the house imitating their teachers, cutting vegetables on the table imitating their mother? Once they see other people in the house paying attention to books, they become curious about them. So set aside time each day to read and let your children see you doing so. Their curiosity will reach you with so many questions about that book.
Make reading a routine: Encourage children to read before bed or during designated quiet time. This can help establish reading as a normal and enjoyable part of their daily routine. Be with them in the initial phases. Some books might be challenging to read, and they will have many questions, and if you are not there to answer, they stop there. Why read when you can't understand a thing? So remember to always follow up with them with questions on the books; that will allow them to ask you the questions they had in their mind and to share their viewpoints about the story. Bedtime stories are a great way to encourage them to start reading books. Bedtime stories can provide a fun and relaxed environment for children to develop a love for books. Bedtime stories can also help build a strong bond between parent and child and instil a passion for learning and imagination.
Provide access to books: Keep various books in the home, including books for different age levels and interests. Try to introduce different genres of books so that they can choose what they like. Pay attention to their interests; children always love it when they remember what they like. Encourage them to make a wishlist of the books they want. Try surprising them with one of the books. When they do something great academically or on birthdays, it will be worth the happiness on their faces. Consider taking kids to the library or bookstore regularly to allow them to explore different types of books.
Encourage interactive reading experiences: Read with your children and ask them questions about the books they are reading. Encourage them to talk about their favourite books and characters. One way to make it more interesting is by roleplaying the story and doing the reading; it will be a wonderful experience for your kids. You can even make it into a musical drama. How fun is that! Family time well spent. Children love getting attention from their parents. When you pay interest in their reading, it will encourage them to read more books.
Make reading fun: Turn reading into a fun and interactive experience by incorporating it into games, such as storytelling games or reading challenges. Encourage them when they come up with their own stories. It might be simple and non-realistic. What matters is that they tried. Imaginations are often non-realistic and illogical; let us give wings to their imagination, not cut them off. Conduct a reading challenge at home on the weekend and reward it with an outing, picnic or small candy.
Reward and celebrate their reading achievements: provide positive reinforcement- reward them with treats or allow them to spend extra time at the park with their friends in the park. Remember never to force-feed them into reading. No one likes to be told what to do. So take it slowly; your children will come around.
These are a few suggestions, but the most important thing is to make reading a positive and enjoyable experience for kids. By creating an environment that values and celebrates reading, you can encourage kids to choose books over their devices. Maybe start with, "Do not read this book: it's for adults." That could instil curiosity in them; just kidding, or am I? Anyway, I wish you the best on this journey.
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