{"id":5698,"date":"2012-11-29T09:03:42","date_gmt":"2012-11-29T07:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/zaparents-blog\/?p=5698"},"modified":"2022-06-23T09:41:43","modified_gmt":"2022-06-23T07:41:43","slug":"my-children-the-reluctant-readers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jozikids.co.za\/blog\/education\/reading\/my-children-the-reluctant-readers\/","title":{"rendered":"Inspiring reluctant little readers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Being a bookworm I was bewildered when I had not one but two children who didn\u2019t seem to love reading.\u00a0 They loved being read to, and could read well, but choosing a book over running outside, playing with lego or watching TV? Not so much.<\/p>\n

Research shows that well-read children have an improved vocabulary and general knowledge, are more world-aware, have more empathy, and are better overall students. \u00a0\u00a0I also think reading is a life tool \u2013 you\u2019ll never be lonely or bored with a book in your hand.<\/p>\n

So I persevered. I brought lots of books – many second hand – so it didn\u2019t matter too much if they didn\u2019t love them. We visited the local library and I tried not to moan when books were returned half read.\u00a0 I tried different genres \u2013 from horsey to sci-fi and friendship dramas. When they yelled \u2018I\u2019m bored\u2019, I yelled back \u2013 \u2018read a book!\u2019<\/p>\n

And then came the breakthrough \u2013 one December holiday my eldest daughter, then 10, watched her older cousins sit and devour books like little book vampires.<\/p>\n

My daughter was intrigued and left out \u2013 so she started to read.\u00a0 Snuck in a corner on the couch she finished her first book and quietly began the next, then the next, and then the next\u2026 She was hooked.<\/p>\n

Now my 8 year old has found her way to books too, and I\u2019m in luck with the third, because he\u2019s a born bookworm just like me \u2013 and we are finally becoming a book reading family!<\/p>\n

10 Reading Tips<\/h2>\n

Gill Haggis, a former teacher and founder of Imaginate \u00a0<\/strong>where stories are springboards for creative art and craft adventures, has these essential tips to nudge your children\u2019s reading habits:<\/p>\n

1. Create opportunities\u00a0<\/strong>by surrounding them with books and reading to them often, from birth.<\/p>\n

2. Make a book corner <\/strong>in your home where they can curl up and read.<\/p>\n

3. Lead by example<\/strong>. Let your children see you and your partner reading.<\/p>\n

4. Encourage them to try lots of different books to find the stories and authors they love<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

5. Create a story language<\/strong> in your family by referring to books and their lessons.\u00a0 For example, be brave and clever like the mouse in The Gruffalo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

6.In the beginning encourage reading of anything<\/strong> and everything \u2013 from road signs and DVD captions to the backs of cereal boxes and cook book recipes.<\/p>\n

7. Buy books<\/strong> and book vouchers<\/strong> as presents.<\/p>\n

8. Buy audio books <\/strong>for struggling readers and expose them to the magic of stories.<\/p>\n

9. Create a children\u2019s book club <\/strong>so they can swop and try different books.<\/p>\n

10. Relax.<\/strong>\u00a0 Make reading happy, not a chore and don\u2019t give up on them!<\/p>\n

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