It can be tough to get kids back into reading after weeks of summer play and screens. Many kids lose their love for books during breaks. Experts say that parents can help kids learn to love reading rather than just reading for school.

Encourage Reading by Being a Reading Role Model
According to best-selling author Charlie Holmberg, parents should model how they love reading. Share passages from your book with your kids. Share those stories at the dinner table to send the message that reading is fun. Find the books that your kids love. If they don’t like novels, look into nonfiction books that have pictures or their favorite topics. Get kids their own library cards so they can pick their own books and have some responsibility.

Let Kids Choose Books They Enjoy
According to literacy expert Marisa Ware, we should read aloud to our kids every day. Bedtime is a good time to read together. Let your kids pick whatever they like, such as graphic novels or joke books. We should work to create a reading environment that feels fun instead of a chore. Set a family reading time in which the family reads and promotes discussion about what they are reading.

The Power of Reading Aloud Every Day
According to literacy expert Maya Payne Smart, kids can like stories and like reading alone. Kids that struggle at reading may enjoy screens because reading is too hard. While we promote reading aloud to help with vocabulary, kids need to learn skills to independently use reading to enjoy the many stories they can read!

Helping Kids Build Independent Reading Skills
Parents can make a difference in helping kids read by asking them to read aloud during breakfast or while running an errand so they can listen to where their kids need help. Summer is a good time of year to evaluate the reading success of kids and prepare them for the school year.

Reading Beyond Books: Learning Through Life
Smart also points out that reading is not necessarily books. Talking, playing, and exploring teaches kids the words and ideas they pull together when they are reading. For example, a trip to the lake may involve talking about the fish that live there and what makes fish and the lake’s nature work together. Whole trips to the lake—if you live in an area where lakes are common—directly support preparing to read.

Using Technology to Support Reading
Kristy Woodson Harvey recommends “meet kids where they are.” For example, it’s okay to use ebooks at the beach instead of books for a child who prefers to use a screen. Similarly, for children who don’t like reading books, give them audiobooks. Also, looking at the movie version of the book is helpful. Have parents consistently model what reading looks like, like they enjoy reading and being excited about books.

The Benefits of Audiobooks for Kids
Erin Beers, a special education teacher, says listening to audiobooks was something that she loved. Kids can listen to books during car rides or while doing their chores. Audiobooks let kids enjoy stories even when they can’t hold the book. In addition, listening to books promotes understanding and thinking about the stories.

Also Reading: Parenting Mistakes: Things You Should Not Talk About Infront Of Kids

Making Reading a Fun Daily Habit
In summary, parents should share their love of reading, find reading books their kids enjoy, read aloud, use technology wisely, and make reading a part of everyday life so kids can see reading as fun and not a task.

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