Raise a Reader

If you’ve seen a video game in the last few years, you know they’re quite impressive. Cinematic sequences, characters that are indistinguishable from real life, and pristine sound quality have turned Pong and Pac-Man into a fully immersive digital experience. Lightning-speed WiFi enables our kids to interact and play with everyone, from their classroom buddies to children on the other side of the planet, in real time. Kids couldn’t be more excited; I can’t blame them. If this stuff had been around growing up, I probably wouldn’t have left the house from age seven until 17.

So, it’s not surprising when, given a chance to conquer the beaches of Normandy in the latest edition of Call of Duty (at least it’s historical?) or read a book on the same topic, most kids are going to choose the former en masse.

There’s no point in rehashing what nearly everyone knows: reading is good for you. Most parents would love to raise lifelong readers. But how do we convince little ones that reality is better than virtual reality? From activating and sharpening imagination and attention to helping develop emotions like empathy through realistic characters, the positive influence of books can’t be understated.

1. START EARLY. Believe it or not, starting in infancy (that’s right, infancy) is not only encouraged but recommended for reasons beyond just instilling a love of books. As Beth Hart and Todd Risley’s 1995 landmark research study highlighted, simply talking to your kids significantly impacts their language acquisition rate.

2. MODEL READING. Young kids are little sponges and tend to accept things as an established routine when they are consistently delivered. A reading habit can be like any other: once you get going, it tends to self-sustain. Life is busier than ever, but taking time (10 minutes is fine) to model regular reading to your child implicitly can have a powerful, lasting effect; show them that reading is not what you “should do” …it’s just what you do. If you’ve drifted away from your reading (or weren’t much of a reader in the first place), now is a great time to jump in with your kids in tow.

3. READ OUT LOUD EVERY DAY. So much of reading revolve around engagement, which can be the hardest thing in today’s world. Many aspects of our lives focus on fast-moving technology, and multitasking has become the norm. Cultivating a good reading habit focuses on one thing and one thing only—the book. While it may seem silly to discuss the finer points of The Three Little Pigs with your 2-month-old, the benefits of doing so can be surprising. Research has shown that the number of words an infant is exposed to directly impacts language development and literacy. So much so that the American Academy of Pediatrics officially recognized the long-recommended practice as important in 2014. While most of us weren’t exactly holding our breath for this pronouncement, it reiterates the importance of establishing valuable literacy practices early in a child’s development.  

But here’s the catch: The language must be live and directed at the child. Taking pauses in the story to talk about what is happening, what the characters are feeling, etc., is crucial to developing the cognitive skills that make meaning—which is the entire point of reading in the first place. Turning on a television, or even an audiobook, doesn’t count.

4. THE LIBRARY IS YOUR FRIEND. This is one of the best (and free) ways to help children build a reading habit. It may seem obvious, but the truth is that many libraries are underutilized when it comes to reading for pleasure. Some of this is due to the evolution in how we receive written information (eReaders, news apps, etc.). However, the practical benefits for small children interacting with a physical book are still relevant. Regular trips to the library are essential in developing curiosity about books in general, providing exposure to different topics, and establishing the mindset that reading is recreational.

5. PLAY, NOT WORK. This is a tricky one. Promoting regular reading time is important, but this should be done through general modeling and lifestyle versus directives. The goal is to establish reading as something a child wants to do versus has to do. The choice is a big part of this; let your child interact with whatever books they wish, regardless of difficulty—in terms of content, use your best judgment. But if your seven-year-old is excited about Harry Potter, let them “read” Harry Potter. Engagement and excitement about the medium are what you’re after.

6.  FIND THE RIGHT SERIES. When I was a kid, an uncle got me The Hardy Boys for Christmas one year (yes, how quaint). By the following Christmas, I’d read about a zillion different titles in the series and even written one of my own (still waiting to hear back from the publisher). Finding a series your child clicks with is excellent, especially ones with an overarching storyline between books. Ask teachers and librarians about their favorite recommendations if your kiddo is a reluctant reader. As soon as they finish one book, the next is already waiting for them.

7. IT’S A PROCESS. Kids’ interests change as they age, and reading is no exception. Depending on where they are developmental, your child may be a voracious reader at age nine and slowly move away from it as the years go by. And that’s okay; we’re talking about trying to instill a lifelong habit, and life is a long time. Keeping relaxed, your child views books as a constant companion rather than a hurdle to overcome.

Originally from New England, Matt Desenberg is a writer living in Monterey.