Reading does more to the human mind than meets the eye. It doesn’t just end at the knowledge you acquire but goes beyond that to giving you a more open mind and giving you an edge over your companions. So when your kids hate reading, it is actually kind of a big deal. Don’t see it as one of those things that they might just grow out of, even though it’s possible that they might on their own. But a child’s reading habit shouldn’t be one of those things that a parent leaves in the hands of the teacher or society.
10 Reasons Why Reading is Important For Kids:
1. It expands their vocabulary
When kids read, they might come across words they have never heard of. This will further lead them to try to find out what these words mean. As a result, they add it to their vocabulary.
2. It makes them better at it
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, right? The best way to get better at reading is just to do it!
3. It helps build independence and self-confidence
Are you looking for an additional way to help build your kid’s confidence? Getting them to be good readers is one way you can successfully do that. Also, as they learn how to read, they no longer have to depend on others (parents or older ones) to read things to them. They now develop a sense of independence.
4. It keeps them safe
Being able to read can help keep kids safe as they can read traffic signs in cases where they’re lost or to help them avoid danger. Reading allows kids to understand when something says it could harm them.
5. It helps them make sense of the world around them
The better they are at reading, the more they are able to tell what things around them say. They can understand what stickers or labels are trying to say.
6. It leads to their future academic success
It’s quite obvious that a child can only progress through school if they’re able to read well. Reading is important to enable kids to be able to follow instructions on the test and being able to even understand or answer the questions.
7. It enhances their imagination
A child’s ability to read helps them enhance their imaginations. They might even create their own little world, as well. Reading enhances their imagination by forcing them to picture what the character actually looks like and who they are.
8. It entertains them
It gives them something good to do – especially once they can start reading chapter books with no pictures, forcing them to really get into their imagination and therefore, really get into the book as well.
9. It improves their grammar
Through reading, they can see how the author composed their sentence structure and grammar. This can also help improve their communication skills as they determine how it should be read using clues such as punctuation.
10. It improves their writing skills.
Because reading helps improve their vocabulary, communication, and grammar skills, it ultimately improves their writing skills as well.
Some of The Reasons Why Nonreaders Don’t Read — And How to Improve This:
Reason 1: They Can’t Read as Fast as Their Peers (and Get Left Behind)
Do this: Allow students to read at their own pace, even if it means that those slower readers don’t cover as much ground as their quicker classmates. While they are reading at their own individual pace, they will learn to read.
Let them understand that it’s no competition and that they shouldn’t think of comparing themselves to any other person. If they have to slow down, let them slow down and read at their own pace without considering the next kid.
Reason 2: They Fear That They’ll Have to Read Out Loud and Others Will Laugh
Do this: Don’t try to force your kids to read aloud, look for a way to make them want to. Sometimes, kids have this fear that when they read out loud, people around them will laugh and make fun of them. Most times, this is mainly because of past experience that they’ve had. Some teachers call on students to read aloud as a way of keeping them awake or alert in class and if for instance, the teacher catches your kid off-guard (probably when your kid was just dozing off), the kid would get quite embarrassed and not able to properly do what he was asked to. Next thing he knows, he’s being laughed at by the whole class. Because of this, each time the topic of reading comes up, they get scared. So, it is very important that you don’t make it compulsory for them to read. Just cajole them and let them do it voluntarily.
Reason 3: They Expect to Be Tested on What They Read — and to Fail the Test
Do this: It is true that testing is important, especially today. So, give the standardized tests to your kids when you have to. But if you have the choice between testing your kids about their reading or giving them an opportunity to honestly respond to their reading, go for the honest response. There will be plenty of time for testing once your kids improve their reading skills and their self-confidence as readers.
Try reading a few short things with your kids. After each one, open the floor to comments. Ask, “So, what do you think about that?” Accept every comment as valuable. If none of your kids comment, say, “Well, let’s let that one percolate for a while.” And move on to the next activity.
Let your kids see that reading isn’t a chore, a competition, or a test. It’s a lifelong skill that we use to gain information, find a new perspective, and tickle our brains or our funny bones.
This doesn’t mean that you should completely abandon testing your kids. However, when you do test your kids in a more orthodox manner, try not to use the same format for every test. Instead of asking them to select the correct answer on a multiple-choice or matching quiz, try open-ended short essay questions or reading journals. Ask them to think of three good adjectives to describe a specific character and give examples of things those characters said or did to support the kids’ choice of adjectives. Ask them to rate the story’s conclusion and explain why they give it a thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
Reason 4: They Believe They Have to Finish Every Reading Selection, No Matter How Long or Difficult
Do this: Have you ever put down a book halfway through because it just wasn’t compelling enough to you? Yes? That’s why you should let reluctant readers stop and move on to the next when they don’t like a book. Not forever. Just until they become good enough readers that reading isn’t a dreaded chore.
Forcing kids who don’t read well to finish material that is far above their ability level or that has no relevance to them can ruin reading for them. Good readers will tackle anything because they know that they will be rewarded by gaining a new perspective, acquiring new knowledge, or entering a completely new world. Poor readers don’t experience those rewards, so it’s difficult to convince them that reading can be enjoyable.
Reason 5: They Believe They Are Too Far Behind to Ever Catch Up
Do this: When students read below grade level, they don’t understand that increasing their skills to the next level isn’t as hard as they think. A ninth grader whose test score places him at a fourth-grade level, for example, thinks he will run out of time before he can catch up with his peers. So first explain that a grade level in reading doesn’t correspond to a calendar year. It is just a measure of how well a student reads a specific level of complexity in vocabulary and sentence structure.
Encourage your kids to learn how to derive the meaning of unfamiliar words from the context and to practice reading every day in order to improve their reading rate.
Reason 6: They Have No Interest in the Material They Are Required to Read
Do this: Struggling readers will blossom if you give them material that is so interesting they can’t resist reading it. That’s the trick: finding something so compelling that kids forget they are reading.
You may have to abandon textbooks for a bit, even if they do contain interesting stories. Textbooks by definition are not interesting. Find some compelling magazine articles about people the same age as your kids.
Conclusion
Reading is essential to just about everything in life – from cooking to driving to just getting through school. It is important to start at a young age and teach your child the value of reading so they will grow to practice it often and value their ability to do so.
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