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Spark the of Reading By Greta Browder
Want your kids to fall in love with reading? Then make sure
they have lots of joyful reading experiences. Many parents
find that easier when children are young - snuggling up with
a bedtime story, visiting library story times, looking at picture
books during playtime, and rereading favorites are important
early literacy activities.
But when kids get older and start reading on their own it can
become a bit trickier. In the midst of all the attention on reading
instruction, Lexile levels, and AR tests, the joy of reading is
sometimes lost and reading becomes a chore. You can’t force
your kids to like to read, but you can create a home where
pleasure reading is a fun part of your family’s life.
I don’t know any adults that stick to certain reading levels
or hope for a quiz when they’re choosing books. But I know
lots of people that pick up reading materials simply because
it interests them. They often like to talk about it when they’re
done. That’s what readers do! An emotional and intellectual
spark ignites when you’re reading things that interest you. It
usually leads to more reading.
Reading for pleasure is the same for children. There is an
amazing variety of terrific material for kids of all ages! Visit
of Chattahoochee
Valley Libraries
your local library and spend time book surfing for some interesting
books. Ask the librarian for help. Visit websites like
International Literacy Association’s site with lists of favorite
books chosen by children: www.literacyworldwide.org/
get-resources/reading-lists/childrens-choices-reading-list.
Once you have books in hand, read just for the fun of it! Short
or long, easy or challenging, fiction or non-fiction, EBooks,
audiobooks, graphic novels - follow your interests. If your
child isn’t enjoying one too much, find another! Reading for
pleasure isn’t about having
to finish the whole book
or being preoccupied by
reading levels and quizzes.
It’s about finding
that spark, talking
about ideas and
letting that
joy lead to
even more
reading.
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