By 3rd grade, children will begin to read independently. Hopefully this is a time when children begin to find that reading can provide hours of personal enjoyment. Parents play an important role in helping children find pleasure in reading. During these critical years, continue to read aloud to your children and encourage them to read aloud to you. Create family reading times and practice sharing books that all of you can enjoy together. Talking about books with your children is a way of helping them into adulthood by sharing thoughts, opinions and dreams that books can help shape.

Here are a few tips to help create motivated readers in your home:

Introduce Your Child to Different Types of Reading Materials

Reading opportunities are everywhere. As children grow up, they develop strong interests. Is your child interested in sports, art, music, humor? Find out what subjects are motivating to your child and help him or her find reading materials about that subject. There are plenty of “real world” materials for special interests. Sports pages, gossip columns, comics, music reviews can motivate even reluctant readers to read. Show an interest in the articles your children read and ask them to read aloud the parts of the articles that are most interesting. Good conversations are great rewards for readers of all ages.

Set Reading Goals

Parents can create rewards to help encourage reluctant readers. Set realistic and achievable reading goals on a regular basis. Reward young readers as they reach their goals. Make sure the goals go beyond simply opening a book and turning pages for a specified period of time. And make sure that as a parent, you are reading the material with your child. Follow up each session with conversation about the passage. Ask questions that encourage opinion or thought and discussion.

Write to Read

Writing is an important part of the literacy experience. Find ways to encourage writing as part of daily home life. Children can write down telephone messages, write letters to friends and family members, create lists, compose directions for visitors.

Read as a Family

Put aside reading time that is family time. Older children can read to younger sisters or brothers. Parents can read to the family. Or everyone can simply share quiet time reading silently. Children need to have quiet time scheduled when reading materials are available and the reading is rewarded. It is a positive thing for children to see that their parents value the experience as well.

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