Having a love of reading is one of life’s joys and is something that can be enjoyed, no matter what life stage we are at. It can see us through the good times and the bad, it is there to be used as an information tool, an educational tool, as well as a tool of comfort and of joy. Reading is something that can be shared and used to create bonding experiences, be it between friends, loved ones or parent/caregiver and child.
The benefits of reading for pleasure are well known, some of those benefits include:- being good for our mental health, improving confidence, boosting academic success, improving language and helping to develop empathy and knowledge.
In this digital age, when screens can often be favoured by young people (and let’s face it, adults too!) over books, encouraging books and reading can sometimes feel a bit like an uphill struggle, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of ways in which to create lifelong readers with a love of books that will be carried throughout their lives.
In no particular order, here are just a few suggestions of ways that may help the children in your life to cultivate a lifelong love of reading:
- Make sure they see the adults in their lives reading as opposed to tapping away on their phones (we’ve all done it).
- Have a variety of books and other reading material around the house – ideally on bookcases that makes it easy to see what’s there.
- Don’t make reading feel like a chore.
- Allow children to choose books that they want to read!
- Don’t force books onto children – there’s nothing worse than reading something you don’t want to read.
- Make going to the bookshop or library a usual part of the routine.
- Start young (or as young as you can if you haven’t started already).
- Chat about books as a natural part of your household’s conversation.
- Show that all reading is important – e.g. magazines, books, poetry, newspapers etc.
- Incorporate all types of reading into the house.
- Use books to find solutions or help for problems.
- Use books and magazines when planning a trip rather than the internet.
- Gift books to each other as well as to friends and family.
- If possible, go to see a play/show based on a favourite book.
- Read out loud together.
- Have chill out time at home where everyone is reading what they want to read.
- If you celebrate Christmas, why not trying embracing the Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod on Christmas Eve (gifting each other books and having a quiet evening of reading with hot chocolate or something equally as delicious).
- Find the joy in books yourself, it’s very hard to encourage a love of something if you don’t feel it yourself.
- Bake/cook something from a recipe book (rather than reverting to the phone – it is easier and there is more variety, but there is a lot to be said for recipes from an actual book)
- Have a dictionary in the house, use it and teach the children how to use it!
- Find and borrow/buy books about favourite things, hobbies or people.
- Have reading goals.
- If you have space, create a cosy reading nook.
So why not give some of these a try, after all a lifelong love of reading is something that is hard to beat . . .