Groups / The Lounge / Reading / Raising Readers
cedarwaxwing says:
There are a couple of things I believe I did right regarding my children, and one of them is raising them to be readers. I suppose it is possible that loving to read is simply genetic - but I kind of doubt it.
My daughter, the other day, said she hoped her children would love to read as much as she loves it, and asked me what I did to make her love reading. I told her that it was a conscious effort. That I knew what some of the literature said about raising readers and followed it:
*I read to them from birth. (before birth, if you count me reading to my daughter while pregnant with my son)
*I let them see me reading in my free time (not that I could have stopped myself, but I pretend I did it on purpose)
*I encouraged them to try several genres - and told them about my favorite books. (one of the most rewarding aspects of raising readers was the fact that my children got to know characters in our favorite books decades after I got to know them. It was like they got to meet and love my friends)
I'm sure there are other things I did and things others can suggest.
What do you think is important in raising readers?
ptero27 says:
I have had the pleasure of attending a few storytimes at the local library, gearing up to eventually lead one myself soon. What I have learned from watching the children is the sheer excitement about coming to storytime, singing and having fun with books. Many of the parents that come to storytime don't necessarily live in the area, but have such wonderful memories of coming to storytime, that they drive out of their way each week to give their children the same experience. I don't have children yet, but someday I want to talk about books with my children, blend them into everyday experiences (like crafts, dinner, daytrips), take them to the library and give them books as presents.
Books are also an important part of my relationship with my mom. I remember watching her read and accompanying her to the library. I did mimic my mom and wanted to read as much her. Together, we have gotten my sister and dad into reading too. Imagine what the world would be like if every family spent an hour reading together every night!cedarwaxwing says:
That is so cool! My parents were not readers - but my maternal grandfather was.
deargreenplace says:
I honestly think that encouraging a child to read is one of the most important things that a parent can do. So many pre-teen children are completely spoiled these days, with mobile phones, TVs and PCs in their bedrooms, money for clothes-shopping (including my sixteen-year-old sister). I always buy her books as presents because they can still bring something new and valuable to a person who has everything.
Whenever I asked questions when I was younger, I was often referred to books to get the answer. In spite of the number of times I answered back with "where do I look in the dictionary if I don't know how to spell it?", my parents did not relent. It was good for my imagination, my self-sufficiency, and for expanding knowledge in ways that school could not. I don't have children, and don't know if I ever will, but if I did, I'd be doing exactly what cedarwaxwing has done. Knowledge and time spent together is so much more valuable and memorable than possessions.ptero27 says:
I have a friend who everytime he got in trouble, he had to go to the dictionary, copy down words and their definitions then use the word in a sentence. I don't like the idea of using learning as a punishment, but I must say my friend is very smart and has a wonderful vocabulary.
My fiancee on the other hand, used to get grounded from reading because he would stay up all night reading. There is no way I would ever do that. You do need to encourage your child to have good sleeping habits, but there must be a better way. Maybe take all the lightbulbs each night. If they are resourceful enough to have a flashlight, what can you do but adore them!
cherrypj says:
I never turn my son down whenever he wants me to read to him. I've read certain books a zillion times (or so it seems), but I'll always do it. His current fave is Dr. Suess's ABC. Will it work? I don't know.
In my household, growing up, my older sister and I read A LOT. No one else in our family read as much as we did, including our parents. I can only presume that being deaf (as is my older sis) contributed. Words on a page are easily understood....cedarwaxwing says:
Big A, Little A
What begins with A?
Aunt Annie's aligator AAA
Oh yeah - I remember those days. There was a time I had that thing memorized!
It sounds like you're on the right track.cherrypj says:
That's the one! He loves the doughnuts and the duck-dog, too!
karmadillo says:
I wish there was a formula for what makes an avid reader. My mom was an avid book reader, but my dad only read the paper when I was growing up. My older brother reads, but my younger brother doesn't. We were all exposed to books, but why do some take to reading and others don't? I have read to my youngest (currently 13) since he was a baby. He does not read for pleasure, but I've found he will listen to an audiobook with me in the car.
I never saw my dad read a book until my nephew gave him his copy of Harry Potter. Dad was recuperating from surgery and bored with TV, and at age 70 became a book lover. First the Harry Potter series, then John Grisham, and now Mom can't get him out of the house because his nose is always stuck in a book!
I think you just have to keep exposing people to literature and one day something will click.
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