Even the most solidly constructed, beautifully finished bookcases can easily become dust collectors — but it doesn’t have to be that way. You already know that reading is one of the most important skills and disciplines your child can gain. After he or she initially learns to read, the goal is to empower him or her to read to learn.
A main ingredient in a successful learner or reader is enjoyment. People who find satisfaction from reading and learning are not only more apt to pursue those endeavors, but they’re also more likely to benefit greatly from them. Not all kids are naturally the “bookworm type,” but there are things parents can do to help foster enjoyment in reading. While during the school year, school during the day and homework in the evenings might leave little time for pleasure reading, summer is a great time to help your kids discover the unique joys that can come through the pages of a good book.
The first way to encourage kids to read for pleasure is to celebrate reading and learning! Celebrating it is so much more fun than requiring it, anyway! Maybe your child or children will enjoy different topics or types of literature than you do, but your own excitement about reading is important. Why? Enthusiasm is contagious! Have you read something inspiring, humorous, or even challenging lately? If so, talk about it! If you enjoy reading and learning yourself, that probably comes naturally to you. What books or stories did you love as a child? Tell your child about those, too. Classics are never out of date.
In addition to expressing personal enthusiasm, you can enhance the experience of reading by going “on location” or otherwise adding sensory elements to time set aside for reading. For instance, maybe you could bring a picnic lunch and spend the day by a river to set the scene for “Huckleberry Finn,” or go to a botanical garden to venture into “The Secret Garden.”
Even staying home to read can seem like a treat when you make a special place to read, like these DIY pallet seats or this literary sign for a “reading garden.” You could also light candles or reserve special snacks just for reading. After all, that’s what many people enjoy most about going to the fair or a ball game. You’ll want to stay away from cups that easily spill or foods that get hands messy, of course! Some writers have special writing socks or other rituals that you could easily incorporate into reading time.
The goal is to enhance the mood in order to make it seem more like a special celebration and the stolen pleasure that it is — instead of a boring item on the must-do list.
Continue reading with Part 2.
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The Bedroom Source
Located near the Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island, NY, The Bedroom Source is your source for the best collection of children’s and teen bedroom furniture. From flexibly configurable Maxtrix furniture to fashionable Berg collections, The Bedroom Source offers high end furniture and professional design assistance to create the bedroom of your child’s dreams.
Contact the friendly staff at The Bedroom Source by calling (516) 248-0600 or by visiting www.BedroomSource.com. When you buy from The Bedroom Source, you are buying from a family owned, local mom & pop furniture store; when you shop at The Bedroom Source, you are dealing directly with the owners. We professionally assemble everything we sell. We deliver to Long Island, the 5 Boroughs of New York City, Rockland, southern Connecticut, and northern New Jersey.
Image credits: Top © Karin Dreyer/Blend Images LLC/Fotolia. 2nd © cheriedurbin/Morguefile. 3rd © GaborfromHungary/Morguefile.
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