Reading is a reliable way to improve vocabulary, gather knowledge, and expand one’s view of the world. When a child develops and maintains a strong reading culture, he or she learns to value knowledge and information rather early. Knowledge is power, remember?

Yes, books can be enlightening, educative or entertaining. And you can shape your child through the books and materials which they read.

This post discusses 10 solid strategies for helping your child develop a good reading habit.

10 Ways to Develop a Good Reading Culture

Start at an Early Age

The best time to start anything is when your child is still an infant. Don’t believe the theory that babies know nothing. It’s an erroneous belief. Babies are born with intelligence and a mind that’s ready to learn.

Thus, to help your child love reading, start reading to them at an early age. Before your daughter or son sleeps at night, read to them. It could be a bible story or something from a children’s book.

Also, read aloud and with excitement so that they’ll grow to associate books with relaxation.

Read with Your Child

Reading with your child builds his confidence and enables him to learn how reading is done. Spend 10-20 minutes of your day with your child in a warm embrace with the book held in front of you. This fosters love and connection. 

 Choose Age Appropriate Books

It’s not enough to want your child to love books. You need to choose books or reading materials which align with your child’s age.

If you select books that are higher than your child’s current abilities, he or she might be unwilling to read. And when a book is difficult or uninteresting, a child would associate reading with difficulty or boredom. 

 Create a Reading Space in Your Home

You may not have a study in your home or a large space for reading. But you could set aside a part of your sofa to keep books and read with your child. This will help your son or daughter recognize the value of reading from a young age.

Visit the Library

Libraries are great for collecting books on different themes and genres. Even if you don’t have a local library, encourage your child to use the library in their school.

In fact, it’s advisable that you visit the library in your child’s school to assess the quality of books that are available there. Our OPS library is fully stocked with a rich collection of books.  

Read Everywhere

Reading isn’t limited to books. Your child can read the newspaper, notices on walkways, road signs, billboards, network news headlines, game instructions, menus, and so on.  

Use Books with Illustrations

Illustrative books are often preferred for encouraging a good reading habit in children. Why? The visuals in this kind of reading materials appeal to kids.

For instance, the image of a dog in a story about the animal kingdom can trigger conversations about dogs between you and your child. Besides this, you can teach your child nouns, animal sounds, and spellings using this kind of books.

Display Enthusiasm for Reading

Children learn from what they observe. So try to read with enthusiasm and excitement. Such love and joy makes your child believe that reading is pleasurable and relaxing. And they’ll most likely develop a similar attitude. 

 Understand Your Child

Not all children have a natural love for reading. Study your child to know if reading comes easy for them. If not, be patient with them and employ the strategies above with care. 

Allow Your Child Choose the Books

Finally, empower your child with the authority to select the reading materials they would love to read. When your child has interest in a specific book or material, chances are high that they’ll give it all their attention.

In all, remember that readers are leaders. Empower your children with knowledge and they will wow you for the rest of your life. Visit our library at OPS to view and assess our brilliant collections for your children.