News You Can Use
Tips for encouraging kids to read
University Relations
News Bureau (662) 325-3442
Contact: Pam McTeer
April 14, 2005
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Getting children to develop necessary reading skills sometimes can be daunting, but it may not be as challenging as you think.
Parents must learn to incorporate reading into games or household tasks, says Mississippi State University’s Devon Brenner. The assistant professor of curriculum and instruction says parents should set an example when seeking to encourage reading.
To accomplish this, Brenner recommends several steps, including:
—Reading daily—even to older children—books they might not pick for themselves. Also, have youngsters take turns choosing the material.
—Reading along to minimize distractions such as telephone calls and television, and to demonstrate that reading is both fun and valuable.
—Allowing the rereading of “easy” books to help build fluency, which is linked with comprehension.
—Selecting a variety of texts, including non-fiction entries or works on specific topics like baseball and horses.
—Serving cereal, since modern cereal boxes can help develop reading skills during breakfast.
—Subscribing to at least one children-focused magazine, Ranger Rick or Sports Illustrated for Kids, among other examples.
—Asking open-ended questions—“What does this book make you think of?”, “How does it compare to …?”, etc.—to help develop critical thinking skills.
In conclusion, Brenner urges parents to regularly intersperse general conversations with comments about the books their children are reading to help the youngsters make connections between the publications’ content and daily realities.