Unfortunately, children are reading less with each year that passes, and they don’t find joy in reading like previous generations did. This applies to kids of all ages, and the reasons that have led to this can range from numerous possibilities. The most obvious one is technology, which has brought plenty of gadgets that kids use and spend most of their free time on. Additionally, kids get distracted quite easily now, and if they grew up hating reading, their opinions are less likely to change throughout their lives.
In this article, we will analyze more of the reasons that have led to a change in kids’ behavior nowadays and how we can help children read more.
What has made kids reluctant to read?
Parents often choose the books their children should read, which the little ones find boring in most cases. So, to maximize the chances that your kid will read, it might be better to let them select their book. Or, it can also be good to search for books with a higher chance of inspiring them and making them want to finish the storyline. Luckily, now it is easier than ever to offer books to kids specially tailored to their preferences and needs. For instance, an AI story can maximize the reading experience of kids worldwide, and make them want to read more.
Another factor that keeps kids away from books is that other distractions surround them, so they prefer to watch TV or play games. So, it might be a good idea to design a quiet space where kids can go when they want to relax and spend a little time without seeing other distractions.
How can we make children more interested in reading?
Personalize books
If your kid is not into reading, it might be good to personalize books where they are the main characters and the plot is about them. As they are part of the story, kids will surely be more likely to want to discover what happens in that book. Scarlett panda lets you personalize books and create unique content that matches your children’s needs and preferences. The stories from Scarlett panda can make your children fall in love with reading while expanding their vocabulary. There, you can also pick the characters’ names and let your kid live in a world surrounded by their favorite people from real life.
And let’s be honest now, who wouldn’t want to read a book written specifically about them? And now, you can do that, so try this technique as well, and you might grow next to a little avid reader.
Start indulging the love for reading from a young age
Another great way to increase the chances that your kid will grow up reading books is to start from an early stage in their life. Habits are made over time, and if they enjoy reading from a young age, they might also love doing this once they become older. Bedtime stories are a great way to make kids like to read, so always choose bedtime books that are interesting and engaging. This will make them look forward to continuing to listen to the story. You can also encourage them to use their creativity and think about the next interesting adventures their friends from books will go through.
Offer them freedom with what they want to read
Another good solution that can help kids read more is to let them choose what they want to read, which is better than forcing them to read something they are not interested in. Now, there are many genres and books to choose from, so it is not so hard to find the best options for them.
Be a model
In most cases, children copy what they have seen from their parents, and if your kid has never witnessed you with a book in your hand, how can you really expect them to do that? So, one of the simplest and easiest ways to make children read more is to be a model and read when you are near them. If you are an avid reader, they will most likely enjoy reading as well and grow up wanting to read more books and explore numerous stories.
You also need to make reading seem funny so that your kids will be more likely to want to try this hobby. Also, as kids like to play, it can be a good idea to have contests where all the family members can start a book and see who will finish it first. In this way, reading can become funnier, and kids can look forward to devouring new books.
Reward them
Reading can be challenging if kids aren’t used to reading from a young age, so they might not find it appealing to start reading by themselves. So, you can offer rewards to encourage children to start reading more. For example, setting up challenges and rewarding them after reaching essential milestones can be a good idea. Let’s say your kid finishes reading a chapter, then you can offer them a special sticker, and when they have read half of the book, you can buy them something they have wanted for a very long time.
The bottom line
Unfortunately, we live in a world where kids are not really encouraged to read because they have something else to keep them occupied, and reading is among the last activities they wish to try. This is not good for kids, as reading can foster creativity and imagination that can help children throughout their lives.
As children become less inclined to read with each passing year, it is important to look for solutions that can change this and make reading something that little ones go to without being forced.
Which of the examples above can make your kid read more?
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