3 Ways to Help Your Child Develop Good Reading Habits

Research shows that children who read the most read the best. If you want to help your kids read better, you need to encourage them to read more. It’s not enough to just read “for school,” but it’s vital to create an environment of reading at home.

Related: Best Books for Kids

Help your child develop good reading habits with these three tips…

1. Create Book Boxes

Use a shoe box, basket, or other box and fill it with plenty of quality reading materials. Place one by the kitchen table, one in the bathroom, and one next to your child’s bed.

2. Invest in a Reading Light

One of my kids’ favorite ways to unwind at the end of a busy day is to spend a few minutes reading in bed before falling asleep. By placing a reading light near their beds, they’re able to turn out the light without having to get out of bed to turn off the overhead light, and if they read longer than a sibling, they don’t keep the rest of the room awake.

3. Extend Bedtime

Bedtime is a great time to spend a little extra time reading together. If you aren’t comfortable letting your kids stay up later, start their bedtime routine 20 minutes earlier to allow for reading time.

Read Aloud to Your Children

Reading to children at a higher level than they read introduces them to new words and ideas, and it accelerates their reading progress. When you read to your children at least three times a week, they are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% on standardized tests than those who are read to less than three times a week.

Plus, reading aloud to your children creates a lasting bond between your and your child. And reading together as a family helps to create bonds and encourage family discussions about great literature.

“Children are clever – they are our equals. We shouldn’t talk down to them, but look across at them. Books should be friendly, and as much like magnets as possible. They should be reliable and accurate, stylish and artistic. They should be accessible, and also surprising and provocative… They should promote wondering. They should be better than good.” – Peter Usborne

Research shows that the presence of quality reading materials in the home is a key factor to academic success. Find quality books to share with your children at picheaplace.com/usborne.