Encourage reading habits and the pleasure of it
Answers
Dear parents,
I notice that the students who exceed in my various classes are all readers. These kids are able to read fluently, grasp plots and ideas quickly, put themselves in the shoes of the character, deduce things, formulate thoughts, express themselves confidently, and effortlessly let their imagination flow in creating something new. These are all highly desirable skills for anyone to be equipped with, no matter where they may find themselves in life.
The children who read can also spell most words correctly in an almost intuitive way, without even thinking much about it.
I encourage each and every parent to utilise this period in your child's life when their mind is absorbent and open, and introduce the reading habit. Please don't make it into another thing that has to be accomplished, but more of a tactful investment in getting into a book together, and sharing the enjoyment of it. Most non-readers will not take kindly to being told to read a book. They will view it as another chore on the never-ending list of things that grown-ups expect children to do. The trick is to join them in the reading, enjoy it with them, like and hate characters with them, speculate about the story with them, and generally have fun.
My son is not a natural reader, and I've had to really coax him, and sometimes bribe him to sit down with me to read the first chapter in a book. He prefers to be read to rather than read for himself, so I read aloud to him. There is a little less resistance the next day to read the second chapter. By the time the third chapter is done, the story would have picked up steam, and he can't wait to find out what happens next. Then it's easy for me to negotiate that he reads aloud at least half the chapter before I continue the rest. About the halfway mark through the book, he's begging me to sit with him to find out what happens further, and towards the end he's reading chapters on his own in his eagerness to move ahead with the story if I'm delayed in joining him.
The whole process repeats with the next book I want to introduce - initial resistance, followed by grudging interest, and then he's completely hooked!
The key is to pick books that you know will capture their interest, and ones that you can enjoy too. The point is to make it an enjoyable activity. Book reading is for pleasure, after all. Introduce it gently, don't force anything, and above all, make sure it is fun for both you and your child.