| For any child to become a good learner and | | | | the parents actively involved in reading is perhaps |
| develop a healthy learning attitude, he or she | | | | the best way to get the children interested. Most |
| must be able to develop an interest in reading | | | | children love being read to. Beyond reading, the |
| from any early age. This is when the role of the | | | | children feel that the parents care for them and |
| parents becomes crucial. Parents should embark | | | | feel appreciated and cared for. This helps them to |
| on the task of encouraging their children to read | | | | associate reading with 'happy' moments. Parents |
| more in more creative ways from an early age. | | | | could use 'read-along' format-based audio |
| A Few Tips for Parents to Promote Reading | | | | cassettes. |
| Habits at Home: | | | | Using Playtime to Encourage Reading: |
| - Choose a specific and convenient time to read | | | | Most children react best to learning when they |
| to your child. This could be just before a meal or | | | | are playing. They look upon this approach more |
| at bedtime. | | | | positively rather than being 'instructed'. Parents |
| - Instil a habit of the whole family reading | | | | can involve the child in lots of daily activities and |
| together. | | | | conversations which help to develop his literary |
| - Make the spot for reading a comfortable one, | | | | and reading skills. Talk to the child while playing. |
| for example you could pile up a few pillows on the | | | | This could be about spellings of things he loves to |
| floor. | | | | pay with. Later on, the child should be encouraged |
| - Let the child select the book for reading. | | | | to read about that particular thing from a |
| - Hold the book in such a manner that the child | | | | children's encyclopaedia. These days, encyclopedias |
| can see the pictures and let the child take the | | | | for children as young as four are available. |
| initiative in turning the pages. | | | | Using Daily Activities for Learning: |
| - Make sure to discuss about and explain the | | | | Ordinary daily activities can also be an occasion |
| pictures and characters from the book. | | | | for learning. For example, recognizing commercial |
| - Prompt your child to point out letters, shapes, | | | | signs and logos while out walking or driving is one |
| colours and animals. | | | | of the first steps in learning to read. A common |
| - Encourage your child to read to you and read | | | | trip to the nearby mall or a grocery store can be |
| out loud. If the child is a preschooler, initiate a | | | | used to this effect. Encourage the child to talk |
| method wherein the child is allowed to interpret | | | | about the things he observes there. Ask him to |
| the story using his own imagination. | | | | make simple, small sentences about these things. |
| Benefits of Reading Aloud: | | | | Discuss about the various colours and shapes of |
| Reading aloud to the children and letting them see | | | | the various goods on display. |