Reading is very important for children. It develops the imagination, they acquire vocabulary, they develop their memory, they learn concepts, to have fun alone and it favors their ability to concentrate. It is the basis of all learning, which is why it is so important to encourage reading in children.
It is a habit of leisure and growth that must be instilled in the home. Next we are going to give you some tips so that children acquire a love for reading from an early age.
Reasons to encourage reading in children
- Books will provide varied experiences of reality
- It will stimulate the language and increase the vocabulary of words. They will learn the words more quickly.
- Improves the ability to express and understand.
- It encourages their attitude of listening and attention.
- It helps them improve their self-confidence.
- Improves emotional ties for the father / mother-child union.
- Increase the use of imagination and the world of fantasy.
- Improves the psychological and affective development of children.
When to start encouraging reading
It is recommended to encourage reading since they are babies. You don't have to wait for them to learn to speak to do so. We can begin to instill reading through stories. Although they cannot read, it is very important for their brain development to stimulate them with reading.. In this case, it is not to teach them to read, it is to convey the pleasure of reading.
The ideal is to read them no more than half an hour a day and whenever they are willing (not tired, not hungry, not irritable). For them the books are a toy, will show more attention to those who are more visual.
In the market there is a great variety of children's stories for babies to develop their senses: with sounds, smells, different types of fabrics, stickers ... The baby will bite and suck, do not be scared. It's your way of saying you like it. You can ask libraries, toy libraries and bookstores for advice.
Enjoy these fantasy moments together, giving voices to the characters and surprising each other together on each page. They are memories that you will never forget.
As they grow, their love of reading will increase if we know how to stimulate them correctly. To choose the correct books we must base ourselves on the child's stage of maturity and their tastes. As the images grow, they lose size and the texts get bigger. They are enlarged and complicated according to the evolution of the child.
Tips to encourage reading in children
- Take your time and create reading routines. Find a place and time daily to spend reading like before going to sleep.
- Freedom of choice. Do not impose any reading on it, even if you have seen it recommended somewhere. Let the child freely choose which book to read. You can propose different books but let him make the final decision.
- Do not impose reading. Do not force him to read, or link reading with studying. Reading has to be understood as a game, something fun where it is enjoyed. If they see it as an obligation, they will catch on. You can propose but not impose, reading is not a task.
- Put the books at your fingertips. Put them in places where they can access them without problem.
- Read with him. Once finished you can talk about which part or which character you liked the most, which will improve your learning and reasoning.
- Encourage him to create his own stories. It will increase your imagination, creativity, grammar and spelling.
- Visit bookstores, libraries and in activities that encourage reading.
- Give them books. Instead of so many toys, choose books for your gifts.
- Give example. The best way to teach them is through example. If a child sees at home that older people spend time reading as a hobby, it will be easier for them to adopt it as a habit as well.
Because remember ... encouraging the habit of reading is one of the best gifts you can give your children.