| Are you aware that there is a crisis in the American | | | | Make some of the books fun and at age level also get |
| educational arena today? That the children who live in | | | | some books that will challenge your child's thinking and |
| the greatest super power country of the entire world | | | | imagination. Different topics in different areas; stories, |
| are no longer the brightest nor the best educated | | | | science, history. Open up different areas for your child |
| children any more! In fact, colleges are crying out for | | | | to see and explore. |
| help because the average freshman college student | | | | 4. Ask questions when you are done reading. What |
| does not have the reading comprehension to read an | | | | was your child's favorite part of the story, which was |
| assignment, contribute to a class discussion and | | | | their favorite character? How would they of liked the |
| certainly not able to write a college term paper. | | | | story to have ended? |
| What can we do? Educators in all grade levels are | | | | 5. Let your child follow their interests in their reading |
| pointing away from the high tech gadgets that today's | | | | material. Do they love horses; are they into World War |
| child spends countless hours on and towards an old | | | | 1? What a great way for them to learn and enjoy their |
| forgotten favorite; books. But some say that their | | | | favorite subject. And don't worry; their interests usually |
| children are not interested in reading, that they don't | | | | shift before they run out of books in that topic. |
| enjoy nor like reading. Here are 10 different ways to | | | | Especially, if new topics are available for them to |
| help your child to love reading. | | | | glance at. |
| 1. Set the example for reading. Let your child see you | | | | 6. Give books as gifts. This is the perfect time to |
| read an assortment of different items from the mail, to | | | | invest money into nice hardbound books of a favorite |
| the newspaper to books. Be willing to share from your | | | | author or series. To finish the series that the child |
| reading, is there a story in the paper that will affect | | | | knows or to introduce a new author, ask the child. |
| your community, a funny section from your book. The | | | | What a perfect time to build a nicely stocked library in |
| dinner table makes an excellent place for everyone to | | | | your home. A child can't grab a book and enjoy a few |
| share something from what they are reading. | | | | minutes of quiet time if you don't have books in your |
| 2. Read out loud to your child everyday. Get into the | | | | home. |
| story, use different voices for the characters, be as | | | | 7. Make time for reading. Turn off the TV, limit the |
| silly as possible. Lower your voice in soft parts of the | | | | computer. Have a "20 minute read-a-thon." Have a fun |
| story and then grow loud at exciting times. Reading | | | | reading contest; whoever reads the most pages in a |
| isn't just for bedtime; make a tent in the living room and | | | | set time wins a fun prize (maybe a trip to a |
| snuggle with blankets and pillows. Or enjoy a story | | | | bookstore!) There is reading contests through |
| outside on the back porch. That's the beauty of books, | | | | businesses were the child can earn a free prize. Pizza |
| they can go anywhere. | | | | Hut offers a free personal pan pizza, Dairy Queen, a |
| 3. Make a weekly trip to the library. There is usually a | | | | free ice cream cone. Ask your local businesses about |
| story hour at the library and sharing a story with others | | | | the contests they run or just stick with creating your |
| is always fun. For older kids have them join a book | | | | own. |
| club or start one if there isn't one going. Make sure to | | | | 8. Have your child create their own book. They can |
| check out some books before you leave the library! | | | | print the story, illustrate it. |