1. How to Encoura ge Children to Read More
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Books that have helped children read more!
How do we encourage children to read more when we are
living in an age of advanced technology? Today's children
are exposed to many types of technological advances
beginning at earlier and earlier ages. While this
phenomenon has many advantages, it can also distract
children from learning to enjoy one of life's simplest and
most rewarding pleasures, reading! Many of today's
children do not read for pleasure. Oftentimes, children
will only read a book when it is required for school and
even then, do so begrudgingly. This does not have to be
the case and this article will share ways to encourage
children to read more!
Instructions
Things You'll Need:
• a variety of books in the home
• a local library card
• creativity and patience
1. Step 1
BEDTIME BECOMES STORYTIME
The most important way to encourage children to read
more is to model this behavior. Read to your children at

2. night (every night when possible). Keep it short and
sweet (no more than ten minutes) and you may find
your young children actually begin to look forward to
going to bed. Imagine that! Allow your older children a
twenty to thirty minute period to read independently
before bed and be sure to present the opportunity to
them as a special privilege that they have earned
because of their age. A little flattery can go a long way
to encourage children to read more!
2. Step 2
LOVING THE LIBRARY
Another great way to encourage children to read more
is to take a trip to your local library and get library
cards for everyone. Help your children pick out high-
interest books that are appropriate for their age and
reading level. Encourage children to check out books
related to things going on in their lives. For example:
Your family is thinking about getting a pet. You can
look for books about various types of pets (including
some uncommon ones) and help your children do some
informal research on the subject. Visit the library
monthly, bi-weekly, or even weekly and keep those
books coming to get children to read more!
3. Step 3
CHECK OUT WHAT I'M READING!
Post reading logs in the home to help children monitor
the books that they are reading as well as keep track
of their progress. Let children fill out their own logs.

3. Keep lots of cool stickers and stamps on hand. Set
goals for how many books should be read in order to
earn a reward. Have your children help to decide on
some of their prizes and rewards. (Hint: A trip to the
local bookstore always makes a great reward!) This is a
wonderful way to encourage children to read more!
4. Step 4
I'VE READ BOOKS 1 - 5!
Book series are fabulous tools to encourage children to
read more! If you have an especially reluctant reader,
you may want to introduce them to a book series in
order to help this type of child read more. This can get
them excited about reading each numbered book in the
series and ultimately finish them all. (This may work
especially well for the child who excels at beating
levels on their video games.) There are all types of
book series for children of all ages and you can find
them in any bookstore or library.
5. Step 5
READ NOW / WATCH LATER
One way to make reading extra fun is to have your child
read a particular book and then rent the movie version
to watch later. They can even ask a close friend or two
to read the book along with them and then pick a date
to invite the friends over for a viewing party. (Hint: This
is a good way to introduce or reinforce the concept of
compare and contrast as well as encourage children to
read more.)

4. 6. Step 6
DO NOT DISTURB! WE'RE READING!
Make reading an important part of your family's culture.
Model the reading of great books for your children and
you may be surprised at how their interest picks up.
Try reading an additional copy of the same book as
your young teen. Get into their world by showing
interest in what interests them! Host family read-ins on
rainy weekends. Have mini-book discussions over
dinner and be sure to include everyone. Show
enthusiasm, enthusiasm, and more enthusiasm and
hopefully your children will begin to do the same and
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