Help Your Children Discover Their Love For Reading During National Reading Month
Every day is a great day to pick up a book. But when March comes each year, we enter a very special time for reading because it is National Reading Month! Reading can open a world of possibilities for children. In fact, it is the foundation of education and vital to children’s success in school and beyond.
According to teachers, students should be reading between 15 minutes and 1 hour a day outside of school, but a majority of children are reading less than the minimum. National Reading Month is a great time to turn the page and help your child discover their love for reading.
Here are tips from our friends at ABCmouse that can help your family celebrate reading, not just during National Reading Month but all year long:
GET ON THEIR LEVEL!
Books are like Goldilocks' porridge—too easy and kids get bored; too advanced and they get frustrated and give up. Before March begins, ask your child's teacher what your child's reading level is, and make sure he or she has plenty of books at that level so they are reading material that is just right for him or her.
SCHEDULE FOR SUCCESS.
National Reading Month is a great time to help kids build good reading habits. Set aside at least 15 minutes every day to read together. Do you have an independent reader? Encourage him or her to read on their own for that long—and reward them when they do!
TAKE THEM ON A BOOK TREASURE HUNT.
Help children discover their next favorite book by visiting your local library. Encourage them to find books on the subjects they are interested in, or ask the librarian to recommend titles that will keep their attention. Digital libraries are a great way to get books anytime and anywhere, and some can be easily search by topic.
HELP THEM EXPLORE THE WORLD OF WORDS.
Books aren't the only thing we read. Create a print-rich home by labeling objects around the house. Create a word wall where kids can see the connection between objects and their written names. By showing your kids the letters in their life, you can help them begin to decode the world around them.