Raising Readers

Teaching your child to read could arguably be called the most difficult task you will ever undertake as a parent. It will truly make walking, talking, and even potty-training look like a walk in the park.

For many parents, teaching a child to read is not an active undertaking, it is something that the school system handles with the basics built at home (the alphabet and possibly some foundational phonics but beyond that, teaching a child to read is a mystery for most). It's like an Olympic style challenge of balancing patience, persistence, and the constant reminder that English is just plain silly.

So many “rules”, so many “rule breakers”, and even more “you just need to know this” will happen along the way that eventually you will begin to wonder if you should just take up a different language than try to navigate the intricacies of the English word.

But then, there will come a time, where your child will begin to GET IT. And then it’s off to the races!

Now the real challenge begins.

You have a child who can read, and you want them to become a child who loves to read. One who enjoys sitting in the crotch of a tree with an illustrated copy of The Hobbit as the wind rustles through the leaves and they are carried off into the Shire with all the wonder of one about to embark on the quest of a lifetime.

So, how do you do it?

How do you raise a reader? Here's how...

• Read Good Books

Charlotte Mason had the philosophy that a child should be placed in front of something worth observing. That children are intelligent beyond what we assume and there should be no place for mindless twaddle when teaching a young one, especially when it comes to spending time reading.

Of course, when they are young, simple picture books and rhythmic verses of trusted fables are a great introduction to reading, but as their attention span starts to widen and their ability to sit and play quietly improves, children should be introduced to literature worth reading, to characters worth spending time with.

Living literature is, as Charlotte Mason would say, “the fit and beautiful expression of inspiring ideas and pictures of life.” They are books that explore the intricate beauty of a full life, expressive, imaginative, and engaging simply because they are beautifully written and evoke a sense of being there.

In short, living books beg to be read.

So read them!

When your kids are young, and even as they grow up, make it a habit to read good books together. Books that extend beyond a subject and challenge the nature of personhood, books that move you to tears as you read aloud to your children.

• Be Patient with Your Readers 

On top of introducing great books to your children, it’s important to take reading at their pace. There is a lot of silent stigma associated with having to have a child reading by a certain age and even more judgement when you have a child who isn’t reading by another. Drop the judgement and expectation, it doesn’t serve anyone and will, truly, only frustrate you. Allow your child space to build confidence in learning and take it at a pace that is manageable for them.

The last thing you want is to have every attempt at reading to be met with tears. That doesn’t set anyone up for success and certainly is not how you raise a confident reader.

Go slow if you need to, repeat lessons and start with books that are “simpler” than what their grade level might be. Try out different types of books, explore different topics, allow graphic novels or comics. The important part is that you remove the pressure to read and replace it with a sincere desire to create a safe place to learn to LOVE literature.

• Be a Reader

I’ll be the one that says it, you won’t raise a reader if you’re always on your phone. EVEN IF you are reading on your phone.

You simply won’t.

You need to model the behaviours you want to see in your children. So read good books with them, read good books around them, make good books available to them. This won’t only be to their benefit, you will also be blessed by the wonderful world of literature.

If you struggle with finding good age-appropriate books to read for your child, then I'll send them to your inbox each month. Sign-up to my free bi-weekly newsletter where I share an exclusive Learning Corner with excellent reading recommendations from my library.