Beyond the literacy hour and school book schemes, reading is a wonderful hobby. It can open up fascinating new worlds, take you to magical places and help you meet some interesting characters.

It’s so important that children are encouraged to read as early as possible. Children who read tend to have strong vocabulary and are more comfortable with writing and language skills. If children are to become readers for life, they need to love stories first as this gives them the incentive to read i.e. putting the cart before the horse.

Here are some simple ideas, to really promote reading for fun that lasts a lifetime:

• Make books available and accessible.  Children who become readers almost always come from homes where books are readily available.  Don't put your children's books out of the way where they can’t see them or reach them.

• Read yourself.  If your children see that you read, you choose to read, and you enjoy reading, they are more likely to become readers themselves.

• Don't forget to give books as presents, for birthdays or Christmas or just as a sugar-free treat.  There are so many inexpensive, good books out there and something given or received as a gift is usually treasured. See local book shops.

• Make story time fun!  Act out stories, use different voices, and most importantly be enthusiastic.  See our '10 Tips for Spectacular Storytelling' article.

• Read frequently.  Try to read to young children everyday and encourage older, independent readers to read regularly too. Take an interest in what they’re reading and chat to them about it.

• Turn off the television and provide quiet time.  Turning off the television forces our children to find something else to do.

• Take your children to the library regularly to choose their own books. A trip to the library can be really enjoyable and think of it as a free activity during holiday times. See local libraries.

• Comic books and magazines are a great way to get children reading more and books on tape or CD can also encourage reading.

• Take your children to free story times at your local library or book shop.  Sometimes hearing an animated reader read a story makes all the difference in the world for getting children interested in reading. See activities & events.

• Read chapter books. A good chapter book will entice a reader and make them want to come back for more to find out how the story ends.

• Use film or TV tie-ins. Use your child's interest to your benefit and read books that tie in with favourite characters or programmes.

• Make your read aloud sessions fun. This is a great start to teaching children to read because they’re seeing how enjoyable books can be.

• Talk about books. Ask everyone in your family to name their favourite reads - it could be a book, magazine, comic or newspaper. Involve grandparents, cousins etc.

• Join a reading challenge or make your own up. Sometimes libraries run reading challenges during school holidays with posters, stickers and rewards but you could also make your own scheme up.

• Older children could join a reading group or setup a book club. This is an enjoyable way to share books and stories with other children and get some good recommendations too. See local reading groups.
 

These are just some of the ways to encourage your children to learn to read and then continue reading for enjoyment. If you have any ideas you’d like to share with us, please email us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .