Top 10 Ways to Nurture the Great Readers of Next Generation

Being a good reader has always been important. With arrival of the “Information Technology” age, the importance of reading has elevated to a next level altogether.

Why should we nurture our child’s reading skills?

• We cannot access, analyze, collect, and/or utilize information without reading.
• A good reader is a better judge of character and a thoughtful critique.
• Reading improves memory skills and is important for graceful brain development.
• It improves vocabulary, communication skills and influences overall personality of a person.
• Above all: It is an important segment for Academic Achievements.

How can we help our child be a better reader?

Every child is unique and so is each parent. As a parent, we always tend to know what works best for our child. Here are top 10 tips to choose from and find out what works best for our little genius.

• The bedtime stories: Read aloud the bedtime stories to preschoolers. It enhances their vocabulary and comprehension skills. If a child is in elementary school or is in his teens, ask the child to read aloud while listening to his stories. What is important is that we spend sometime with our child reading together.
• Parental influence: Kids often tend to observe and learn from elders. They are best at imitating us. We can choose to read our own stuff when our child reads or does homework sitting besides us. 
• The interesting stuff: We tend to choose our reading stuff as per our age, maturity, and interest. We need to find out what our kid prefers to read. Provide the same at places that he can easily grab it from: such as center-table of living room, by the pool, in the car, and near his bed, etc.
• The reading room:  If possible, dedicate a separate space as library or reading room. Walk him to the nearby library or reward him for spending time at school library. Appreciate the child whenever he uses the library to read or research. Encourage the child to be the best of friends with books and inform him of the benefits of being an avid reader.
• The variety of material: We can download e-book readers in our teen’s cell phone or ipad. Provide audio books to our young kids. Encourage them to read from good websites. For younger kids we can provide printouts of reading material. This will keep them in tune with modern technology and will provide wider reading scope. 
• Fun with words: Words and reading can be a lot more fun when the kid reads menus, road signs, and names of places as we drive. Make them participate in quiz, help them make their own puzzles, play rhyming words, and various other word games available on websites, etc.    
• Group studies: Invite his friends over for reading. Make for them a comfortable space and organize a contest for the group. Award the one who wins this reading competition. Include speed-reading with the contextual reference, word games, and interpretation as per their age. 
• The mentoring: Apart from having fun with the child, we also need to watch him carefully for reading skills and difficulties. There are certain difficulties such as, not being able to recognize sound of words, use the words in right context, relate the word to its right meaning, and grasp what he reads, etc. If asked a few questions from the material that we read together, with careful observation, we can underline it, if the child needs help.
• In case of reading issues:  Seek guidance from school as well as from professionals. We can get help from online resources as well as from tutors.
• Taking reading to next level: Make kids write their own journal or diary. 

Keep motivating and influencing the child in a positive manner. Never miss an opportunity to praise him for his good work. It is one habit that will blossom to reap many awesome benefits and is totally worth the effort.