Making reading fun & interactive for kids ensures better students later in life

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Reading is a vital part of every child’s development, something we can make fun which creates a healthy habit form a very young age and benefits in the long run

Johannesburg, South Africa – Reading should be a part of every child and parent’s daily activities and can be something fun that parents can enjoy with their kids. It can sound like hard work, something you don’t want to be doing after a long day after work. Children might see it as a chore, something that may be boring, but here are some tips on how to make reading exciting!

Studies show that extensive reading was linked to superior performance on measures of general knowledge, vocabulary, spelling, verbal fluency, and reading comprehension.” – Cunningham and Stanovich, 1998. Another study shows that it is clear that reading early in life are critical factors in student success, – Anthony W. Marx, president of the New York Public Library, New York Times (2015).

Here are some fun tips by Future Nation Schools on how to make reading interesting:

Create a cozy spot for your reading time with your child
Reading aloud is fun for children, especially when mom or dad use different voices for each character – it’s a way to build vocabulary, attention skills, and comprehension, as well as, perhaps most importantly, a love of reading
Let your child help you choose the book you will be reading together – this will get them excited and keep them interested
Point out the pictures in the book as you read – this allows them to understand and connect to the story
Help your child realise that reading pertains to more than just books – encourage them to get their hands on everything they can, including comics, cereal boxes and kid-friendly websites.
For birthdays and holidays, give your children books, just as you would a toy – everything looks better with a bow on it!
Leave your kids’ books next to their beds. If you encourage them to read for a few minutes each night, they’ll be polishing off books in no time. Even if they’re old enough to read to themselves, consider reading out loud to them too. After all, what’s better than a bedtime story?
Help your kids sign up for a library card – not only will they feel more grown up, but they’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and possession over their reading abilities.
Turn a trip to your library or local bookstore into an anticipated event, and you never know, your little ones might even beat you to the car.