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eading is a fundamental skill all children should develop. However, the magic happens when kids enjoy what they are reading and seek out opportunities to read for pleasure. Here are ten lasting ways to pique your children’s interest in reading.
R 1
Read to Your Child. It’s never too early to start reading to your child.
Read to your kids as often as possible from birth, which, according to the Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will help them learn sounds and language. Continue even when your children are older and can read on their own, to encourage their interest in books, promote a connection between you and provide a way to discuss the book and the world around them.
2
Begin With the Basics. Reading is based on words, and in order
for your children to read, they must understand what the words mean. After they learn the alphabet, start to build their vocabulary. The first three years of life are the greatest time for speech and language development, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Take every opportunity to teach new words. Make a game of it by pointing out objects, learning new vocabulary or doing the crossword. Your kids will de- velop language skills while having fun.
3
Match Books to Your Child. Chil- dren are required to read certain
books during their school years. They will love some classic novels, and may not enjoy others as much. To move away from the drudgery of required read- ing, try to match books to your child’s
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interests. Listen to your kids. Not only does this help you to get to know your child, it creates topics to talk about at the dinner table. Is your son interested in history, and your daughter interested in science? Choose books that match your children’s interests, and you will see them reading more often. They will still have to complete the required school reading, but reading what they are interested in as well will help them maintain enthusiasm. Keep in mind that as your children get older their interests evolve. They may like to read about dinosaurs today, but in six months they may have moved on to spaceships and outer space. Letting them explore all sorts of topics — both fiction and nonfiction — will benefit them in their reading capacity and overall grasp of language.
It’s never too early to start reading to your child
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