We asked readers of our weekly e-newsletter, Minnesota Parent This Week, how they encourage their kids to love reading. Here’s what you said.
We let them choose: catalogs, comic books, soccer how-to books, the sports section. Then, we sit down and read at the same time they do. It makes it a very individualized thing, but also something we do together.
— John Evans, Apple Valley
Start at birth. Then there is no need to encourage. They will want to read and read and read without you encouraging at all!
— Kay Duffy, Burnsville
I use teachable moments, like signs, video games, etc. to remind him the more he learns to read, the more he can do without needing help — cooking, video games, assembling toys, etc. A real example of why it’s important to read well satisfies his logical side.
— Babette J Kamba, Minneapolis
Set aside time every day and let them pick the reading material, whether it’s a book, magazine, or the newspaper. Establishing the habit and enjoyment is as important as what they’re reading!
— Al Schultz, Eden Prairie
Reading is a lifelong skill. Modeling for your children is important. Taking time to read together is essential. While you are reading with your child, take turns reading sentences, paragraphs or pages. Use voices for different characters. Act out scenes from the story. Go to the library together to pick out books. Reward them with a trip to the bookstore or a book from their book order (sometimes books are only $1). Reading is fun!
— Carrie Proetz, Minneapolis
I read with them and to them. We also read a book and then watch a movie based on that book to see the differences and similarities.
— Jeremy Hawley, Milaca
Trading off pages is one idea. In the past when it was a struggle to get one of them to read, they would be happy to read one page if I would read the next.
— Davida Alperin, St. Paul
Our son likes cooking shows, so I have him read recipes to me. He likes cookbooks because they have pictures with the writing!
— S. Franklyn, Hopkins
Ask your child to read the book to you, even if they do not know how to read, they can make up a story to go along with the pictures.
— April Jennings, Minneapolis
Every week we go to story time at the library and we check out so many books it is hard to carry them all. Books are always accessible and we read books as a family every night. We don’t have a television in our primary living space.
— Dana Christopherson, Crystal
The read-a-thon competition in my first-grader’s school motivates them to compete, and the reading has taken off from there!
— Rama Hart, Minneapolis
