Are your children reluctant to read? Do they struggle with reading?
Both of my boys have been reluctant readers. My first son is extremely bright, but as a younger student, he was just not interested in reading in his spare time. My second son struggled more with reading, and still has to be encouraged to read. However, studies show that children who read more do better academically. So, here are 3 tips/ ideas I have used with my boys to encourage them to spend time reading.
1. Allow them to stay up at night and read. If your child’s normal bedtime is 8:00 pm, make it a special privilege to stay up until 8:30 pm to read. Only allow reading during this time, not playing or screen time. This will motivate most children to spend extra time reading.
2. Reward reading time with screen time. My boys love video games. They are often willing to read an extra half hour or hour if I reward them the same amount of extra time to play video games. Especially during the summer or on the weekend, this is a great idea for encouraging your child to read.
3. Look for reading rewards programs. In the summer, for example, a local bank offers up to $10 for extra reading — $1 per book read. Most public libraries offer some type of summer reading rewards program. If you cannot find one locally, create your own reading program. Have your children “earn” some type of reward by spending extra time reading.
How do you encourage your children to do more reading? Share tips below in the comment section. I always love hearing from you.