by First Mate Keira, guest blogger.
Are you frustrated that your child isn’t interested in reading? Have you tried everything you can think of and need help? Don’t worry! You still have options. Read on for nine ways to encourage your young readers.
1.    Be a reader yourself.
If you don’t read how can you expect your child to want to read? The best thing you can do is to be seen reading and reading a lot. Share your love of reading by making that love known to your kids. They will gradually become readers themselves as they see how much you enjoy it.
2.    Take them with you when you go to the library.
Don’t tell them to get books, but make sure they keep company with you while you browse. Eventually, they will get bored and wander off to find something for themselves. If not, don’t worry there’s always next time!
3.    Read to them.
Only do this if you’re interested in young adult fiction yourself, otherwise it will seem like a chore and that’s not the attitude you want to instill in your child. You can read to them at bedtime, on road trips, or even at school (be sure to check with the teacher first and that you sign up as a volunteer.)
4.    Find books your kid will like.
Does your child have a special interest? Are they interested in space? Get books that feature it! Both fiction and non-fiction. You want them to read books with topics that appeal to them; not books that make them unhappy.
5.    Encourage audio books.
If you suck at reading, encourage them to listen to audio books. Even if you don’t suck at reading, encourage audio books. Your child might be more interested in books with rich vocalizations that act out the story than trying to read it for themselves.
6.    Buddy reading.
Pair up with another parent and get your kids together. Pick a spot (house, library, park, etc.) to meet and bring the books. Your kids can read side-by-side companionably, take turns reading aloud, or listen to an audio book together. Reading doesn’t have to be solitary – it can be fun and done with others!
7.    Offer incentives.
Build a program with your child. Find what works for you. Think Pizza Hut Book-it program. Set a goal and when it’s met reward your child. Go out for pizza, ice cream, rent a movie, go to the movies, go to the park, have a sleepover, buy a toy. Then raise the goal a tiny bit so your young reader can grow.
8.    Ban TV, Internet, and Video Games.
Take a day every week and ban TV, computer and internet time, and video games. Call it Energy Conservation Day if you want to be sneaky about it. During this time let them find ways to entertain themselves. Chances are books are going to be one of the first things that come to mind.
9.    Don’t force it.
Above all don’t force reading. If you do, reading will be forever associated with bad memories. It’s like root canal that way. Be patient. Some people are readers. Some are not. Let your child find a love for books on their own in their own time. It’ll happen.
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-11-02 03:01:18.
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by First Mate Keira, guest blogger
Love books? Have friends that love them too or want to find new book-loving friends? Start a book club! Here are ten tips to ensure your book club gets off the ground and is a lot of fun!
- Pick Good Books. You should suggest books for your book club that are either award winning, highly recommended, or well known favorites. This guarantees most of your members will like the book.
- Figure out the type of your book club. Are you mother-daughter pairs, a bunch of friends from the same school year, or mostly total strangers when you start?
- Meet monthly. If you pick books out weekly there are too many things that could get in the way of finishing the book. Life is busy between after school activities, homework, chores, and family time. Make it as easy as possible on your members to read the book in time for the meeting.
- Meet in a comfortable location. Be sure to have enough chairs and space for your club. You can meet at a house, a library, in a park, or book store. Wherever you pick, make sure your book club members are comfortable and feel free to talk.
- Make a flyer. Your club should have a flyer describing when and where you meet, what book is being read, and what to expect. Place this where kids can access it whether it’s at your school library or a public library.
- Come up with discussion questions. A book club doesn’t have to revolve around really hard questions. Ask some fun ones like your favorite moment, invention, pet, or saying, etc. Have your members bring their own questions!
- Create a game inspired by the book. If you create a game out of the book and have prizes your reading club is going to be having a blast!
- Snacks! Book clubs are best with snacks. Have each member sign up monthly to bring something. If you have more than 12 people, assign two or more to each month to divvy up costs. Or better still hold a club potluck every time! Food and books, what more could you want?
- Create a club scrapbook. Take pictures each month of the book club meeting and put them in a memory album. Share it with members at the end of the year for a trip through memory lane!
- Have different people lead the club. This way there are more people in the leader spot and everybody has a chance to call the shots. Everyone will then appreciate the leaders and nobody will be moody because they didn't get a say in things.
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-10-16 03:29:47.
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by First Mate Keira, guest blogger
Here are the top ten kid friendly places to sit and read a book.
- In bed. Morning or night, one of the best places to read is in your bed! You are your most relaxed and it’s extremely comfortable. Stack up those pillows or crawl under the bedclothes for some truly exceptional reading time.
- At the park. Make a picnic and bring a large blanket, find a nice spot and settle in for a lazy day. A calm overcast day is best for eyes and hair. You won’t tire easily and you won’t be distracted by flipping pages and clinging hair caused by the wind.
- In a library. It’s fairly quiet in a library and there are usually places for settling in with a book. Some have little nooks and others have open reading lounges. Find yourself a spot and crack open a book!
- On a couch. Like your bed, the couch is a nice and comfy spot to sit/rest and read a book. Armrests make great pillows.
- In a tent. Whether this tent is in your room or outside camping, a tent is a great reading space. You’re enclosed and away from prying eyes. It’s private and cozy. You’re cut off from the real world and given all the space you need to enter a book world.
- In a tree house. For the same reasons as a tent, plus it’s super cool. Who doesn’t like a tree house? It’s a special secret place just for you.
- In the bathtub. Get clean and get time to read at the same time! Add some bubbles or bath salts and you’re really having a party… a party for one, but still as fun!
- At a friend’s house. Reading at a friend’s is awesome because you get to hang out in quiet companionship. This is a great way to pass time together without being too involved with each other. You’re not alone, but you’re not required to talk either.
- In the car. You spend a lot of time in the car. Open that book and fill those empty wasted minutes spent traveling by traveling to another world.
- By the pool. Dangle your feet in the water or lie out on your towel. Both are great for reading. Bring a cool drink to quench your thirst and have fun!
Keira runs a book review blog for readers by readers on romance novels entitled Love Romance Passion. She’s been reading romance since she was in her teens and began blogging about romance so she could share her passion for her favorite genre. She loves reading paranormal, Regency, historical America, and highlander most of all and completely adores blind and wounded heroes.
Originally posted 2009-10-08 03:50:31.
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