Joy of Reading
 

            A passion for reading is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. Reading should be more than a subject in school. It should provide a child with entertainment, enrichment, satisfaction and a feeling of fulfillment.

             This joy of reading begins in infancy and continues as a child grows. Parents can play a positive role in nurturing a love of reading in their children by following these guidelines. 

1.      Be a role model for your child. Let your child see you reading on a regular basis. Talk about what you have read with your older child, expressing your enthusiasm for reading. Seeing a parent or other adult engrossed in a good book provides a great example for a child.
 

2.      Provide reading material for your child. Children enjoy having choices of what to read based on their age and reading level. Trips to the library are the best way to give you child a selection of books and other reading materials, including children’s magazines, newspapers, comics and poetry. Teach your child to browse and scan books to check for interest and reading level, then pick out their own books to take home.
 

3.      Read aloud to your child, the sooner the better. The time to begin reading to your child is in infancy. If that time is past, begin now. Begin with short, age-appropriate books and allow the reading material to grow with your child. Encourage your child to choose favorite books and make reading together part of your daily routine.
 

Reading can inspire a child’s imagination by opening the door to adventure, fantasy, and knowledge. Children can identify with the characters in books and share their feelings and emotions. Reading teaches lessons about people and the world around them. The joy that comes with reading a good book will remain for a lifetime.