A passion for reading can bring you a lot of happiness. An excellent book can transport you to another world; you can learn so much from them and never feel lonely when you have one by your side.
But how can you foster a love of reading and books in your child attending primary schools in Riyadh?
We’ve gathered some of the greatest tips for encouraging your child to read from an early age if they follow the PYP curriculum.
Daily reading to them
Nothing is more romantic than sharing a story with your child. It’s a special time when you can cuddle beside one another and sulk over a book. You will be well on your way to encouraging your youngster to become an ardent reader if you build in some story time each day.
There are so many moments throughout the day when reading a book together may be a fantastic experience. You might read a book together when you both feel drowsy and need some quiet time in the afternoon. You could even read while taking a bath.
At night, many parents read a book (or two or three). It’s a great, peaceful time to spend bonding with your child, whatever you decide to do.
Set an example
Young children enjoy copying you since you are their favourite person in the world, and if you read frequently, they will start to think that reading is a wonderful activity as well. If you’ve never been a reader, now is the time to pick up a book or two and experience the thrill of reading for yourself.
Your child is more likely to want to embrace reading if they witness you enjoying a book.
Keep a lot of books handy
Provide your child with a wide selection of books to read and browse. Maintain them in areas where your youngster may quickly get them, and replenish them frequently with new titles.
A steady supply of new books can be obtained via the library or a thrift store. When your child needs quiet time, ensure they are easily accessible and placed at a child’s height. You can also introduce kid-friendly newspapers to school-aged children to introduce them to various reading genres.
Make a pleasant reading space.
This might be a beanbag, a cosy little chair, Wendy’s house with a string of lights, or anything else. Your youngster may be more likely to read if you can make it comfortable for them to cozy up with a good book. Ensure your reading area is well-stocked with books at kid height, either on bookshelves or in baskets. Consider including some nice blankets or cushions.
Frequent visits to your local library
Try to take your youngster to the library once a week or so. Children can browse and explore the many books in this beautiful setting. You two can take a seat together and read a few books. Many libraries host regular story hours and rhyme sessions to bring books to life. These events are frequently free.
Your child can pick many books to borrow and take home each time. Children enjoy picking out which ones to take home as a fun activity. You may show your youngster that a love of books is a worthwhile and exciting aspect of life by taking frequent trips to the library.
Discuss the novels you both read
Numerous talks can be started by reading. Talk to your youngster about the plot and the characters once you finish the book. To engage their imaginations and have them consider the story, pose questions to them.
Ask them what they believe would occur if a tiger rang your doorbell if you have read The Tiger Who Came To Tea with them. After reading The Gruffalo, ask your child which animal in the woods they believed to be the bravest. Your child will frequently ask you questions that will start a dialogue. The appeal of reading aloud together is that.
Make literature come to life
Books can provide many opportunities for imaginative play. Using the books you’ve read as a jumping-off point for your child’s playtime, you may bring the stories to life. You may pull out your child’s pretend tea set after reading The Tiger Who Came To Tea so they can play with it.
After reading The Three Little Pigs, you could construct a house out of Lego bricks, straw, and twigs and then test which one blows over first when you blast it with a hair dryer. Bring stories and books to life by letting them spill over into fun.
You shouldn’t expect your child to pick up a book and start reading immediately at this young age. That will happen as kids start school, work on their phonics, and experience the thrill of reading independently.
