How can you create a good Reading Environment for Children to learn and enjoy reading at home?

Question

I'm interseted in learnign about how to create good places for children to read at home and, ways to encurage reading at home. Are there certain enviroments or factors that might make reading easier? I want the children to be intrested in reading on their own. How have you done it or how would you have done it in a perfect senierio.

Answer 1

Children will read if they see you reading.... Go together to a book store and have everyone pick out a book (including yourself).. It doesn't matter what the book is... The idea is to get the kids interested in reading... So even if it is a book of comic strips let him/her have it. Then set a time (maybe just after dinner) to read... Start with 1/2 hour...

But the important thing is for them to see your reading even when they are not. Develop a passion for reading!

Answer 2

Hopefully you started by reading to your children
Have a couple of books, one will become their favorite
You will read this to them several times, don't worry
after a dozen times or so, start making up your own story
Kids, being bright, will correct you
Ask them 'How do you know?'
point out the words in book and see if they can identify the letters and words
Build on this
Read with them, every other page
The environment is not about furniture or color of the walls
its about a parents attention and respect for education
get your child interested in a subject, then they will want to read on their own, don't matter if its sports or horses or whatever
Ask if their teachers are assigning book reports
see if they are reading their textbooks
Find out what their friends like to read
see if they check out books form the school's libary
See if they want to buy any books from the bookmobile
Serials are good, like Harry Potter, just let them read
I am not a big fan of 'read a movie' but slow readers can make up lost time with those

Answer 3

Are they your own children? If yes, then you can make it more magical. I used to love to hide in a cave I made from a blanket over a table and was reading there. Or you could increase their interest by treating them to something related to the book, after they read it. E.g if they read a book on animals, take them to the Zoo, in this way you can also manifest the things they have learnt in the book. If they read something on trains take them to an industrial museum, where they can sit in old trains. It works both ways, because they associate the places with the story and it is not boring anymore. They know that they will get a surprise whenever they read something, so once they tell you the story of the book, or even read it out loud to you, you can surprise them. Or they can make a wish on their next book, if they are really into reading at some point.
Maybe, you can pick a certain time of the day where they can read regularly, and then they get used to it. Depending on the age of the child, you can "sell" teh books to them as something very special. You can tell them, that they are a special tool to make everyone who reads them very, very clever and that they can be as wise as "Gandalf" or "Harry Potter" (they will associate with this figure and want to be the same, so read).
A very special place for reading is always great. If they have something nice to drink and a few snacks with them, it will make it even more special.
Good luck!

Answer 4

My son is labeled dyslexic..we call it a learning difference..
I never really taught my son to read. I provided books for him to read and borrowed books on tape from the library. These were left all over the house. I read to my children from birth because I am a reader...I usually have two or three books laying around the house that I am reading at one time. I would always put books on tape or CD in the car on trips and would provide the book in the backseat if they choose to pick it up. We have story time where we each read passages from a chosen book everyday.

I have just tried to show my children that reading is fun. They can go on any adventure and learn about any subject they are interested in at the moment. Both of my children love to read. It just is a way of life in my home...perhaps you should make it a way of your life in yours. I know that this method has worked with many other homeschoolers. Just make it available and fun.

Answer 5

If you are a good role model yourself this is really important. Having a comfortable and reasonably quiet place (with the TV switched off!) is great to encourage reading enjoyment. Reading books and talking about their content including pictures, cartoons etc. together can help a child to get the habit of reading, looking at pictures, investigating ideas etc. As long as it is exciting and interactive your child will carry on reading and really enjoying books of many kinds.

Having a good reference part of your home 'library' is useful especially when there are exciting things to look up and investigate either for homework from school or just for general interest.

Having said turn the TV off when reading, television and radio etc. can be used as triggers to find out further information about particular topics of interest.

Answer 6

Depending on the age, you can read with them. If there are older, you can have them make up stories. I have a friend that teaches in a school and she divides the children into groups. Each group picks a subject that they want to write about. Then they have to do research on the subject, then they write a different type of story on the subject. She then makes copies of each groups story and hands them to all the other groups. A lot of the time, someone in the other groups, once to find out more about a story they just read. I hope this gives you an idea or two.

Answer 7

I used to take my kids to the library and let them pick out their own books. Then we would go home and I would read to them. They are all grown up and gone from home now, but they still remember many of the stories I read to them and laugh. Make it a fun time and really get into the story. Turn off the TV and limit computer so that they have time to read. I started this when my kids were about 5 yrs old. They all love to read to this day. Good luck

Answer 8

First..making age and reading level books availiable to them ie: shelf or basket etc they can reach, in their bedrooms and another location where the rest of the family gather. Topics/stories that interest them. Encourage (particularly pre-school-yr1) to talk to you about the pictures, what's going on in their words and understanding. Activities, such as drawing their favourite character or making up their own story book - you may have to help. It's great to have comfy beanbags, own chairs, big pillows/cushions, but also encourage reading anywhere. Make a time to read to them, or with older kids read the same book and discuss it. Also, role model by reading books, etc yourself. Make visiting the local library a fun activity with them and check out what activities your library has to offer - some offer them during school holidays. Make it a fun, interesting activity. There's no perfect scenario - each family is different, just your interest and willingness to do this is a great for your family

Answer 9

Set up a corner with lots of comfy pillows. Put a short bookcase about your child's height or a little lower and fill with age appropriate books. Let them make a sign that says, "Shh, I'm Reading" or something like that. Put pictures of their favorite books on the wall in their reading area. Sit with them a few times and read with them. Then let them know it's a special area just for them that they can go to when they need something to do. Also, take them to the library to get them excited about reading. Libraries have reading activities and lots of ideas in the children's room for setting up a reading area. Good Luck! :-)

Answer 10

My local library which is rated third in the country has a reading program which is fantastic. They read a book a month. Both my children love the selections and they do the reading at home. So, you could copy what they do. It is the Highlands Ranch Library in Colorado.

I can tell you that before this program, my son would not read at home at all.