Digital entertainment rules today; Netflix, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are forms of entertainment that have emerged over the past few years. With such forms of entertainment, nurturing a love for reading in children can feel like an uphill battle. Despite that, the benefits of fostering a reading habit are immeasurable. There are numerous benefits of reading for children. Here are the top ones:
- Reading allows children to slow down, think, reflect, and understand things from various perspectives, which is not possible through digital media.
- Reading books helps children to process information effectively and gain retention power. Since there are no distractions in books like those on websites, children’s concentration power strengthens, enabling them to process information more effectively.
- Reading books produces chemicals in the brain that are associated with pleasure and reward. It helps in the positive development of the brain.
With that being said, the Dazzling Stars team has put together a list of ways that we can reading fun for your child:
1) Be a role model.
The first thing you should do if you want your child to get into reading is simple: Model good reading habits yourself. If your child sees you reading often, it is likely they will learn from you and develop their own love of reading.
2) Make regular trips to the library.
Weekend family visits to the library are a clever way to introduce your child to reading as a means of fun and entertainment.
Most children’s sections of Singapore libraries are designed to encourage age-appropriate reading skills and explorations of different literary genres, such that you can find the right book for your child no matter their age. Aside from that, the National Library Board (NLB) also organises regular free storytelling sessions for kids aged 4 to 10 years old at libraries across the island. Having it be a regular routine outing of sorts instils in your child that reading can be a fun activity and something to look forward to doing.
3) Create a reading corner.
Giving your children a nice space to relax from their daily school and enrichment activities can make a world of difference. Having a simple, cosy “reading zone” in your home can incentivise your children to learn to love reading. It does not have to be over-the-top too, just a simple beanbag or armchair and a good reading lamp will do. You can even throw in some soft elements such pillows and blankets for added comfort.
4) Bring the Stories They Read to Life
Plan events/activities out of the books that your child is reading. If they are reading about ocean life and marine biology, plan a trip to the aquarium. If they are reading a detective novel, visit an escape room together. If they are reading a book about dinosaurs, plan a trip to the Natural History Museum or go for a walk/cycle along Jurassic Mile. This gives your child a chance to tangibly interact with whatever they are reading about and makes the entire reading and learning experience a lot more fulfilling.
And there you have it, the four best ways you can get your child to learn to love reading. It may take a while for your child to develop a consistent reading habit, but do not be discouraged. The most important thing is to be patient and be consistent.
At Dazzling Stars, aside from having a reading corner/library, we have curated a programme, Dazzler English, to help our students develop language and literacy skills.
Interested in our facilities and programme? Contact us today for a centre tour!