By Susan Day
Here are 5 tips we can all do to help our grandkids, the children in our lives, and our neighborhoods fall in love with books and become better readers.
1. Talk about Books
Talk about books and share the books you loved as a child. What characters inspired you or affected you? I was terrified of the Bluebeard story when I was growing up, and I learned to feel compassion and empathy for the Ugly Duckling, for example.
2. Buy or Gift them Books
Buy books as gifts or donate them to your local library – Purchasing books for the children in your life is a great way to introduce them to many wonderful adventures. Libraries are always in need of more books. Speak to your local library and ask what books are needed. In some areas there are book boxes where people leave books outside their homes or in cafes for others to share free of charge. If there isn’t one in your area, why not start one?
3. Set a Reading Time
Share reading times – once you have given the books as gifts, make time to sit down and share them. You can do the reading for younger grandchildren, but why not share reading with older grandchildren? This is a great way to build memories and strengthen your relationship.
4. Set Example by Reading in Spare Time
Be seen reading so your grandkids can model their behavior on yours.It will inspire children to read more and more. Children follow parents and adults and seeing you reading will help them develop this habit of reading often, which will become a liftime habit.
5. Make Books Visible Across the House
Leave books lying around the house so they become part of the furniture. Some children are growing up in homes where books are strange, mysterious objects. Leave books on tables, counters and chairs, use them as doorstops even, and allow children to become familiar with them. If they ask about the books, be ready to share the stories and say why you love these books. Clearly, the books will need to be appropriate for children.
If you don’t have any books, a quick trip to the thrift shop will turn up a lot of books which you can use to encourage the children in your world to want to read and become better readers.
Helping your children become great readers, and to fall in love with reading, is a wonderful way to help them grow and develop into confident, well-rounded people.
About the Author – Susan Day
Susan Day is a children’s author and writer. Her blog, Astro’s Adventures Book Club, is full of ideas and tips for grandparents who want to build a strong relationship with their grandchildren. In particular, Susan specializes in helping grandparents share their love of books with their grandchildren. Susan is currently writing a book titled, The Top 10 Things Happy Grandparents Never Regret Doing!
Susan lives in Australia with four dogs, three boss cats, three rescue guinea pigs, and an errant kangaroo. And, apart from blogging, writing and reading; she loves drinking coffee, painting and learning to box.
