Seeing the child enter the sprint stage of the primary school leaving exam, his interest in reading has not diminished. A few days ago, he selected a few more books on the Internet and asked me to buy them for him. Usually, parents often ask if there are any tricks to make their children fall in love with reading, and I often talk about my own experience of guiding their children to read, but this is only a case. In fact, it is a very long process for children to develop the habit of reading, which requires the patient guidance and persistence of parents.
Develop an interest in reading from infancy
As a father, I know the importance of cultivating reading habits in my children. Soon after my baby was born, I bought a lot of picture books, and put one or two books on the bed, on the sofa, on the dining table, in the toilet and on the balcony, so that the child could pick up the books and flip through them at any time.
A child's reading habit should be cultivated from infancy. When my child is very young, I will read him picture book stories and tell the storyline in a lively and interesting tone. Children will be attracted by the bright pictures and rhythmic words, and gradually become interested in books.
The child began to be six months old, and his mother held him and read the contents of the book aloud with exaggerated expressions and tones while flipping through the picture books. Although he could not fully comprehend the plot of the story at that time, he was always attracted by the vivid graphics in the book and his mother's exaggerated reading tone, looking intently at the book and occasionally reaching for the brightly colored pictures.
As my child grew older, I began to read him simple nursery rhymes and rhymes to let him feel the rhythm and rhythm of the language. Whenever he reads a part he likes, he clapps his hands and cheers, showing a keen interest in reading. This kind of parent-child reading can not only cultivate children's love of books, but also enhance the emotional connection between parents and children.
The age of three to six is a critical period for developing the habit of reading
When a child enters the preschool stage, the best period between the ages of three and six is to develop the habit of reading. At this age, children are curious about the world and have a keen interest in a wide variety of books. I would take him to the library, let him pick out books of interest, and encourage him to read them aloud. By reading by themselves, children can not only improve their reading skills, but also develop independent thinking skills and imagination.
I remember one time, I took my child to the library, and he was attracted by the thousands of books there, looked around, and finally picked a popular science book about dinosaurs. When he got home, he couldn't wait to open the book, look at each dinosaur illustration carefully, and asked me to read the contents to him. Seeing that he was so fascinated by the book, I was also infected by his curiosity and desire to learn, and gradually attracted by the lively and interesting content of the book.
Since then, we've made it a habit to go to the library at least once a week so that our kids can swim in a sea of books. Sometimes he chooses popular science books, sometimes he chooses fairy tales, and sometimes he chooses comic books. No matter what type of book my child is, whenever he is interested, I will encourage him to read it and answer his questions when needed. In this way, children not only acquire new knowledge, but also develop good reading habits.
Share the joy of reading with your child
As the days passed, the child's reading habits and abilities were gradually consolidated. In addition to creating a reading environment for my child, I also take the initiative to share the joy of reading with him. Whenever I finish reading a good book, I discuss the plot and characters in the book with my child and encourage him to express his opinions and feelings. Through interactive communication, children can not only deepen their understanding of the content of the book, but also develop critical thinking skills.
One of the most popular types of books in our family is imaginative fairy tales. Whenever I finish reading a wonderful story, I ask my children, "If you were the protagonist of the story, what would you do?" Sometimes his imagination will exceed my expectations and open my eyes. Once, we read the story of Yu Gong moving a mountain, and the child thought that it was too difficult for Yu Gong to move a mountain with a hoe, and that he should use a machine. I immediately praised his views and encouraged him to keep thinking.
Through this interactive way of reading, children can not only enjoy reading, but also stimulate endless creativity. Our family often plays role-playing games based on the plot of the book, and the content of the book is vividly and interestingly. This kind of parent-child interaction not only enhances our relationship, but also cultivates children's oral expression skills and cooperative spirit.
Lead by example and be a role model for your children's reading
Reading not only broadens one's horizons and increases one's knowledge, but also cultivates good character and personality, which has a profound impact on children's all-round development. Most importantly, as parents, we need to lead by example and be a role model for our children's reading. Aiden Chambers, an American expert on children's reading, said: "Children who don't read are made by adults who don't read." We may have poor library resources, too few or damaged books, or we may be experiencing all sorts of difficulties. But there's one more thing that transcends it. A devout adult reader, an adult who understands what children need, is the most indispensable element of reading education. "So, whether at home or out, I take the initiative to pick up books and read, so that children can see that reading is a way of life for us. Children will be subtly influenced and gradually take reading as a habit.
I remember one time, when my family was having a picnic, I picked up a children's novel and read it. At first, the child was still playing, but it didn't take long for him to be attracted by my attentive appearance and come over and ask me what I was reading. So I shared the book with him and explained the storyline briefly. Unexpectedly, this small act aroused the child's strong interest, and he began to yearn for me to tell him stories every day.
Since then, we have developed a habit of reading a story to our children every day before bed. Sometimes it's a fairy tale, sometimes it's a science story, sometimes it's a little story of your own making. Regardless of the content, I try to make the tone lively and interesting and grab the child's attention. Gradually, this kind of parent-child reading has not only become a tradition in our family, but also cultivated a love of reading in our children.
Now, I feel relieved to see my son immersed in the stacks of books and the sea of words. Reading has become an integral part of his life and will stay with him for the rest of his life, just as I expected. In fact, as long as we give children the right guidance and lead by example, children will subtly fall in love with reading and gain lifelong ability. Therefore, we, as parents, should strive to create a bookish environment for our child from the moment he is born, and infiltrate the precious habit of reading into his life with love and patience.
(The author is an educator)
• ("Parenting" in the "hi, Southern Weekly" column of the Southern Weekly App, welcome to write to share the scenery and understanding of your children's growth as a parent and teacher.) Submission email: [email protected])
Ho Hyun Gui
Editor-in-charge: Wen Cuiling