How do you instill in your children a love of reading?

How do you instill in your children a love of reading?  In a day when everyone seems to be addicted to cell phones or video games, how do you make a child put down their electronics and read a good book?

A big attraction to electronics is the fast-moving frames and lots of action.  Books may seem to be quite boring in comparison.  Providing a variety of reading material may help.  So, why not make a day trip to a local library and expose them to the endless variety of choices.  At the library, there will usually be a large assortment of good fiction books to choose from that are suitable for children of any age.  Depending on their age, they might like to read mystery fiction, I know I did when I was a child.  Or perhaps, they prefer crime fiction or suspense fiction, something with a good plot!  Allow them to choose five to eight books of their choice to bring home.  The fact that they chose the book and not you will encourage them to read it.

Or, if there are no libraries near where you live, why not together with your children search for online books that they would like to read.  There will be an endless number to choose from!

When I want to begin a new habit, I often need to have some kind of reward for accomplishing what I set out to do.  Why not create a chart or graph where the number of books read can be recorded?  That way, your child can visually see the progress they have made in the amount of books they have read.

As a parent, do you like to read yourself?  Children will often follow the example of their parents and reading is no exception.  Growing up, I never saw my mother read a book.  She was always busy around the house, taking care of us.  The only time I saw her read was when she was on vacation.  Ironically, I tend to also read when I am on vacation!  It takes effort for a parent to show children that reading is not a chore, but something that can be enjoyed at every age.

Make reading a special time with your children.  I can remember when I was quite young, Mom would read a small book to us before we went to sleep.  I know that we had Mom read the same book repeatedly and we knew the ending, but just to have time with Mom was special.  Reading then becomes associated with spending time with you – something every child wants!  This can also be a good way to reward your children for work well done and to help them relax before they sleep.  Video games and electronics don’t have the same effect!

The love of reading that is instilled while young will carry over to when they are older and will prove to be a big asset when in school.  Don’t miss opportunities to nurture this love in them when they are young.  Reward them for books they have read.  Join a book club so a new book is delivered to your home every month!  Take the opportunity to spend time with your children by reading to them before they go to sleep.  And take a moment too for yourself to remember the time gone by when you too loved to read.  Perhaps you will rekindle the love for reading that you once had as you begin to sink into a good book.