Alex wants nothing to do with reading. His mom and dad try to offer him some books, but he refuses. The teachers insist on having him read because he needs practice, but he is not interested at all and prefers to go out and play. At home, his parents have also tried to scold him and demand that he read, but Alex started throwing tantrums, and in the end, they gave up.
Some parents are not accustomed to reading and mistakenly believe that children and reading do not go well together, so they waited for the child to start primary school to introduce him to a book.
Actually, children love stories because those help them immerse themselves in the fantastic world that usually populates their minds. Furthermore, reading can satisfy their curiosity, and we know how strong the desire to learn is in a child.
Therefore, the question is not whether children like reading, but how to nurture this need in them rather than suppress it. This is exactly what I mean to help you do.
1. How to approach children and reading
Reading should be a pleasure and, as such, it should be offered to the child. Naturally, the example set by the parent is worth more than a thousand teachings; therefore, it is essential to have books circulating in the house. Not only that, when I talk about reading, I refer to all types: literature, newspapers, magazines, etc., in other words, everything that involves reading.
Moreover, it is important to remember that the curiosity to do what adults do is a powerful lever to stimulate reading in a child. In fact, if the child is very young and observes us with a book in hand, he will spontaneously be induced to imitate this experience, which will surely become overwhelming for him.
A good habit is to set aside small moments of reading for a child every day, starting from the day he can hold a book in his hand. There are opportunities for this, as it only takes a few minutes away from television or playtime; reading helps to relax, so it can be a strategic moment during the day, such as before bedtime, after an intense play activity, or any other suitable time.
This moment can also be shared with the rest of the family. Think of rainy days when you can’t go out and there’s nothing to do. After watching some TV, playing together, and finishing homework and chores, you can dedicate a moment to reading together, where each person reads their own book.
As I often repeat, upbringing doesn’t only need rules and discipline; often it is more than sufficient to transmit healthy habits through one’s example to achieve great results with minimal effort.
2. Idee per delle letture appropriate
A book is appropriate first and foremost when it captivates the child. His interest in reading must be alive for him to do it. This means that it is extremely important for him to be the main protagonist in the choice of books to read.
Naturally, this choice should be guided in some way by the adult. In the sense that there is an enormous variety of genres, and a child might struggle to orient himself. Therefore, a visit to the library or a trip to the bookstore can be managed by accompanying the child in selecting genres suitable for his age, and then letting him freely identify the text that attracts him the most.
If you instill in the child the habit of browsing through the shelves even before starting primary school, you are conveying a very important skill for his future academic and personal fulfillment.
First of all, because as soon as he learns to read, he has the opportunity to practice with some of the books that he regularly finds at his disposal, without anyone imposing them on him. He will self-educate and select books that are most appropriate for his level of competence; this will help him pursue his growth at a perfectly suitable pace according to his needs.
Secondly, because he will have acquired a very high level of autonomy in enjoying a precious resource such as a book. When he has curiosities or needs, he will already know where to find the things he needs without having to ask anyone. Is he curious to discover everything about dinosaurs? The library has it all. Does he want to explore planets? Ditto. Is his passion about animals and nature? He knows where to find information.
3. Gli aspetti più importanti per abituare i bambini alla lettura
The only thing I want to point out to you concerns the most important aspects of fostering reading in children:
– it is very important to read to children from a very young age;
– it is important that the school teaches children to read; at most, you can support the school in practicing reading;
– by accompanying the child in reading, you can prevent and manage any learning difficulties or dyslexia.
