Learning to read is a critical part of every child’s education, but teaching them how to read for pleasure is not typically part of the everyday classroom experience.
For families keen to see their young children picking up books because they are genuinely engaged with stories – and not simply because their teacher has told them they have to read a certain number of pages each day – there are tips to help kids make deeper connections with books.
Let go of the past if it doesn’t interest them
As adults, we often have fond memories of our own much-loved favourites from childhood, but sharing classic children’s literature with today’s generation can fall flat – leaving the young reader bored and disengaged and the parents and carers frustrated that something so special to them is not being appreciated.
Letting go of what you might have loved can feel like a tough shift to make, but for kids raised on a diet of online instant gratification, peppered with punchy, short grabs of language, those long-winded sentences in Little Women or Huckleberry Finn may not hold a contemporary allure for every child. That’s okay.
In an age where we can look back on the classics but also explore the plethora of new books, the choices are seemingly endless, from graphic novels, to non-fiction accounts of real-life events, to fantasy, adventure, science fiction and everything in between.
Surround them with choice but direct them to their existing interests
Try spending an afternoon in your local library together to explore picture books or novels for younger readers, depending on their age range.
Libraries usually showcase popular favourites and talking to the specialist children’s librarian can also offer a rich vein of suggestions. To point your young one in a positive direction, start by tapping into what you know they already love – whether that’s puppies, dinosaurs, fairies, or dragons – and work from that foundation to guide them towards titles that are more likely to capture their interest.
Sometimes, the joy for young readers is being read to by a parent who might often be too busy to sit still and deliver a story. By blocking some time to be truly present and become a captivating reader – with funny voices and expression and genuine interest in the story you’re reading – capturing a young person’s imagination can be a wonderful way to show them how fun reading can really be.
Digital reading platforms can help
Accessing a digital reading platform and app, such as Sora, with a huge range of titles to explore, is another positive way to encourage reading for pleasure. It gives children aged K-12 access to stories in a way they know and feel comfortable with – the digital space – which enables them to read whenever and wherever they like. Taking the time to make sure they know how to explore the platform and search for stories they might love might be all it takes to get them making time for books.
To learn more about Sora, from OverDrive, listen to EducationDaily’s interview with Sora account executive, Janet Galimi, at the recent EduTech conference in Melbourne.
And when the reading for pleasure does happen, make time to discuss what they’ve been reading and share their thoughts on it – from the plot to the accompanying pictures. Asking them how they might have taken the story in a different direction, or what they loved about the way it was written, helps them think more critically about what they read and can help you direct them to other stories you think they might enjoy.
