Burgeoning Bookworms Abound – Ways to Encourage Reading

You never had to encourage me to read when I was a little kid. I was (and still am) one of the bookworms you see curling up with a good book at every opportunity. Books were (and still are) my passion – when I moved into my most recent apartment, the boxes of books outnumbered the boxes of kitchen and bedroom stuff by a 2:1 ratio – so you can imagine my excitement when I found out that tomorrow is Read a Book Day.

However, it gets harder and harder to encourage younger readers to put down the laptop and pick up a book. In a way I don’t blame them; I always know that I’ve spent too much time on a computer or staring at the television when my attention span for books plummets. We’re used to everything moving so quickly that our patience for books is somewhat limited. Many also regard reading as the purview of the classroom, and who wants to spend time out of school doing something that you do in school? But, just as a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a little creativity can help encourage reading in students, children and would-be bookworms of all ages.

Ways to Encourage Would-Be Bookworms

1) Make reading an experience. Build a special nook just for reading with your kids; drape blankets over the backs of chairs or over old boxes, toss some pillows on the floor and string twinkle lights around it. Having a special spot to escape into literature makes curling up with a book into something truly special. You can make reading a family affair too; turning off the television for an hour, even for just one night a week, to have family reading time can make a huge difference in how your kids perceive books. Pop some popcorn, put on your comfiest pajamas, and make family reading night something to look forward to.

2) Read to kids at bedtime. It’s a beautiful, simple way to connect with your kids, and it makes reading something to look forward to, not dread.

3) Make books a reward! Good grades and chores well done are often rewarded with a special meal or a new toy – why not make a new book part of the reward as well? One family I know incorporates a book into every gift giving occasion by gifting the recipient with, “Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read.”

4) Don’t be a snob. Harry Potter may not be great literature, but no one can deny that it made a whole generation of readers fall in love with books. To paraphrase the great Dr. Seuss, a book is a book, no matter how small. If your students or children are devouring “The Hunger Games” or other young adult series, let them read away, and suggest other books that fall into similar genres. If a student reads and enjoys “The Hunger Games,” introduce them to other dystopias like “1984,” “Brave New World,” or “Fahrenheit 451.”

5) Check your own attitude toward reading. Developing healthy reading habits is like developing healthy eating habits – if you turn your nose up at broccoli, chances are your kids won’t eat it, either. If they see you excited and passionate about reading, they will catch your attitude. Incorporate books into your dinner time conversation, read the same book as your child and discuss your thoughts about the characters and events. If you make reading a priority, so will younger readers who are watching you.

What do you think Studio 602ers? What techniques do you use to encourage would-be bookworms?