by Michael L. Thal
Close the laptop, turn off the TV, and snap open a book. Great idea, but how can parents motivate their children to read? Reading is fun. It takes you to far away lands, explores space, and the lives of real or imagined people. Once parents establish learning and reading as a value, kids will be motivated to power down their computer games and crack a book. Here are steps you can follow to make this happen: motivate, count fingers, and modelStep 1 Motivate
Harlan Klein, Principal of Innovation Middle School in Clairemont says, "Helping your child read for meaning and understanding is the key. Reading is an exercise. So the more practice a child gets, the more proficient he becomes."
Motivating a child to read depends on the child. Some children are inspired by praise, while others by positive reinforcement. It would be nice if all children had an innate drive to want to learn. Unfortunately, computer games, cellphones, and iPods provide a stronger pull than Mark Twain's classics. It's up to parents and teachers to provide an incentive, so set goals.
Step 2 Count Fingers
To help kids determine their reading level, try the Five-Finger Method. It's a quick way to decide if a book is too hard or easy for your child. Open the book and have Suzie read aloud. Each time she stumbles over a word she lifts a finger. If she gets to the bottom of the page and extends two or three fingers, then the book is within her readability level. If she has trouble with four to five words, the book is too difficult. If no fingers are extended, the book is too easy.
Don't toss those easy books aside. If you have a younger child at home, tuck them under your arm. Your older student can read those books to her toddler brother. It's a great way for the student to play teacher and develop a love of reading in her kid brother.
Dr. Michanne Hoctor-Thompson, Resource Teacher at Montgomery Middle School in San Diego, suggests finding a topic of interest. "When it comes to novels, try selecting books in a series like The Magic Treehouse. Magazines are a great way to get kids into reading. They cover a range of topics and styles of writing." She also recommends graphic novels. She says, "Comics are popular with kids who enjoy lots of action."
A carefully chosen high interest level magazine subscription is worth its weight in gold, especially if addressed directly to the child. This gives youngsters a sense of ownership, and high interest level material keeps kids reading.
Step 3 Model
If you want your child to be a reader, seeing Mom and Dad reading is a big motivator.
That is why the most important thing a parent can do is to promote a love for learning. Reported in the May 2008 issue of Guardian, Professor Barry Zuckerman, of the department of pediatrics at Boston University School of medicine, had research to back that claim. His recent study, "Archives of Disease in Childhood," showed children read to at an early age have better language development and had better language scores later in life. Reading aloud turns reading into a fun activity while strengthening the parent-child bond.
Reading is one of the most important skills children learn because if they can read, they can teach themselves. This begins at home. Read to your child when he's an infant and continue the habit as he progresses through school. Use different character voices to hold a child's interest. After your child chooses a book from a library, grab a copy for yourself. You could read it aloud or silently every day during an allotted time. Then discuss.
Discussing books in progress shows children you are actively interested in their lives while developing critical thinking skills. Ask simple knowledge questions to get started, but push for more creative thought questions as the discussion broadens. Have your child analyze the difference between the antagonist (good guy) and antagonist (bad guy). Have the reader create a different ending for a chapter or criticize the author's writing style.
