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10 Steps to Healthy Reading Habits
1. Read to your child daily or regularly. Make it a fun, social activity where your child will curl up in your arms and feel comforted and loved. They will forever be reminded of your love when they pick up a book.
2. As they grow out of curling up in your arms, have a quiet reading time every day during which everyone's focus will be on reading. The home will be quiet, no phones and reading screens only. Limit time period to your child's comfort level. If you are just starting this routine they might need time to adjust so you might want to start with just 10 minutes every day and stretch it to 15 minutes and more when your child's ready.
3. Always let your children choose their reading material. Their reading preferences might range from comic books to magazines to books. Don't always expect a classic novel. Give your child the option to change and choose their reading material.
4. After quiet reading time discuss what you all read. Be okay with your child not liking what they read. That's part of reading.
5. Never punish or reprimand by making a child read or if your child makes a mistake while reading. A friend never picks up a book because every time he read a word incorrectly he was reprimanded leading to associating reading with punishment.
6. When choosing a book at the library or bookstore always encourage your child to choose 5 or more books to take home. They might not like their first choice and that has to be okay.
7. Make sure your child always enjoys what they are reading. Encourage them to find and try different books or magazines until they find what they enjoy.
8. Research a book group in your area for your child's age group. We all love to talk about what we’re reading with others. Following link are book groups in New Jersey: http://www.meetup.com/NJ-Homeschooled-Readers-and-Writing-Groups/
9. Join a forum where your child can comment on what their reading with others.
10. Post book reviews on amazon or Teen Ink, http://www.teenink.com/.
Good Luck and Post Comments and Questions Below:
1. Read to your child daily or regularly. Make it a fun, social activity where your child will curl up in your arms and feel comforted and loved. They will forever be reminded of your love when they pick up a book.
2. As they grow out of curling up in your arms, have a quiet reading time every day during which everyone's focus will be on reading. The home will be quiet, no phones and reading screens only. Limit time period to your child's comfort level. If you are just starting this routine they might need time to adjust so you might want to start with just 10 minutes every day and stretch it to 15 minutes and more when your child's ready.
3. Always let your children choose their reading material. Their reading preferences might range from comic books to magazines to books. Don't always expect a classic novel. Give your child the option to change and choose their reading material.
4. After quiet reading time discuss what you all read. Be okay with your child not liking what they read. That's part of reading.
5. Never punish or reprimand by making a child read or if your child makes a mistake while reading. A friend never picks up a book because every time he read a word incorrectly he was reprimanded leading to associating reading with punishment.
6. When choosing a book at the library or bookstore always encourage your child to choose 5 or more books to take home. They might not like their first choice and that has to be okay.
7. Make sure your child always enjoys what they are reading. Encourage them to find and try different books or magazines until they find what they enjoy.
8. Research a book group in your area for your child's age group. We all love to talk about what we’re reading with others. Following link are book groups in New Jersey: http://www.meetup.com/NJ-Homeschooled-Readers-and-Writing-Groups/
9. Join a forum where your child can comment on what their reading with others.
10. Post book reviews on amazon or Teen Ink, http://www.teenink.com/.
Good Luck and Post Comments and Questions Below: