Promote reading In children and young people with effective strategies is extremely important for them to acquire the habit of reading and do not waste time on unproductive activities. This will help them to become more educated and educated people.
One of the things that seems to worry parents and teachers today is that children and adolescents read less and less.
Children's free time is frequently occupied by extracurricular activities and, above all, by the use of television and new media. technologies. The computer, video games, television, Tablet... are tools that have now stolen the protagonism of the books .
In addition, it is also alarming the little curiosity and interest that children and young people show, in general, by reading. Sometimes they find it boring and They end up doing it out of obligation and not like the enjoyment of reading.
Why is it fundamental to encourage reading and reading habits?
It is important to develop a taste for reading and reading habits given the benefits of reading for the individual.
An essential aspect of reading is that it is a fundamental way for access to culture.
Reading, in an instrumental way, allows students to learn at school. Mastering reading is an essential requirement to be able to take In front of the rest of the school subjects.
Therefore, in many studies a correlation between reading competence and academic performance has been found.
Other studies have related the students' academic performance and their love of reading, which has been measured through reading habits.
Taking into account the data of Spaniards in reading comprehension and school failure it seems necessary to do something imminent to favor the Reading competence.
Besides all this, there are many other benefits that children can find in reading. Reading is fun, it expands knowledge, it allows Live new stories, develop your imagination and bring you closer to realities that you could not otherwise know.
Reading is a source of pleasure, a source of imagination and fantasy and knowledge, knowledge and information.
Indeed, getting readers into readership should be a primary goal of educating children and young people, as this will be one of the Fundamental learning for the rest of his life.
To this end, collaboration and continuous animation of the reading of all: parents, teachers and teachers, the context, libraries, media…
Reading animation could be defined as"a conscious act to produce an emotional or intellectual approach to a particular book in a way that This experience brings an approach to the world of books as something fun"(Carmen Olivares).
The animation to the reading supposes to invite to the child to live histories through the reading, to approach it to the books of fun and pleasant way, without Pressures.
We speak of reader habit because it is not innate. Children are not born appreciating the value of books. All this will depend on the practice and context in The one that develops, of the situations that we put in its reach so that they can know the reading.
11 Strategies to encourage reading
1. Read, act with your example!
The golden rule to get the taste for reading in children is to see their main models read. Parents' reading habits influence In those of his children.
Parents' attitudes and habits influence the attitudes and habits of their children. Hence it is important for parents to read
And enjoy reading so that the children can internalize it in such a way.
The taste for reading is something children learn at home when their parents spend time reading and enjoying books.
The main factor to take into account in the formation of the reading habit is the behavior and attitude of readiness of the family.
This does not mean, however, that the school has no role in all of this. The school (formal education) has always been associated with reading. And also the experiences and models that the children observe here will affect their configuration towards the books.
Research has shown that when children are encouraged to read by their parents or when children Their parents read, they have higher reading habits.
Parents' reading habits and attitudes towards books have also led to children being able to read and Develop reading behaviors.
2. Offer reading as a fun leisure alternative
For your child to see reading as fun, offer activities where you can see it.
The attitudes you show towards reading necessarily translate into offering reading as a fun leisure alternative, where reading and Books are the central aspect.
Different studies have shown that the reading habit is more developed among those who have reading as an essential element in their reading. Leisure time.
There are several activities where stories have a key role: for example, go to public libraries together, have a reading card, To attend the storytellers that they often realize for free, to observe if there are reading groups, literary contests, book fair...
Going to plays or musicals is another way of animating reading. And some movies based on books as well.
Positive attitudes towards reading by the family predicts the reading ability of children and adolescents.
For example, the PISA report, which places Finland as the leading reading comprehension country, showed that it was mainly explained by Much interest in reading and were committed to it.
It is important that reading be present within the activities that occupy the leisure time in family so that the child integrates it as a Alternative leisure.
3. Share reading times with your child
In addition to reading parents and children separately, it is important to provide for times for family members to read together.
The child will develop his reading habits and choose the books he likes best to start reading.
But it is important that you spend some time exclusively to read and comment together reading.
That time together, which is also leisure time, allows us to understand and reflect on stories and knowledge that the child could not access else.
Talking about readings or keeping track of the readings that have been done can be a good conversation topic with your child.
4. You have to look for a while to read every day!
One of the issues that is said not to read is"because of lack of time". It is important to find a place a day to read even a few pages.
We are talking about forming a habit, and for that it is essential to have a routine and be constant in reading.
The habit of reading in children leads them to master the technique and this will affect many other areas of their life: they can read for pleasure, Will facilitate their progress in formal education...
5. Reserve a space in the home for reading
A good option is to have a place at home for the family library and to have books.
You may be encouraged to have your own library and it is important that you have the books at your fingertips. I can take the books when I want and can sit To read voluntarily.
You can dedicate a comfortable and quiet area so you can get closer to reading.
6. Give books, give experiences
Books are also a good gift. Many times we give away clothes, toys... giving away books can be a great choice.
You can take advantage of occasions like birthday or Christmas, but you can also take advantage of other situations to give away books.
When you travel somewhere, you can go to select a guide of the place. If the child is interested in some subjects (space, body Human...) go to a bookstore (or library) to choose a books on that subject is also a suitable choice.
7. Adapt the books to the characteristics of your child
If we want the child to read, the books have to be adapted to him,"made to measure".
When a person reads, he finds books he likes, books he does not like, books that make him think, books he wants to re-read...
All this is part of reading, but it is important not to force the child. Respect your tastes.
The books have to be adapted to their age, which are not very easy for him (ie, of lower ages, because the subject will not be appropriate) nor Not too difficult (we run the risk of not understanding and prefer to stop).
The books that can be more complicated we can choose them to read them together and thus to be able to comment them.
Reading has to be part of the person's lifestyle and has to be based on their preferences and the needs they present.
Adapting to their characteristics implies being attentive to the interests that show to reach them through the books.
It is a common practice in the classroom to homogenize reading in children. That way it will be difficult to get to interest all children. Each one of them is different.
Respecting the child in reading is the first step in gaining interest and love for books.
8. Books have to be fun
Some surveys of children show that children read more than adults.
However, when we are interested in reading, the figures are alarming. Children read, but out of obligation.
It is important to keep in mind that reading has to be a pleasure and that we have to work hard and make a commitment to offer children and young people a Environment that fosters interest in reading.
No use in forcing children to read. If they read by obligation, when they have opportunity they will stop doing it and the effect that we will have generated in them Is the opposite of what is desired.
Reading does not have to be punishment. Reading has to be fun. To do this, they need to be attractive and not just a curricular instrument Which is compulsory at school.
We can not forget that if we want children to be habitual readers it is necessary that they learn to value reading and that they want to read Voluntary.
9. In the variety is the taste. Diversity of readings!
In reading we find an infinite variety. Although children should not be forced to read everything, it is important to encourage them to know the variety And to have it within reach.
Children should have at their disposal stories, illustrated albums, comics, comic books, novels with different genres.
Diversity will help you be curious and help you discern your own interests. All this will allow you to get excited and to know other worlds.
As parents and teachers our task will be to accompany them and teach them to discriminate between all the offer that exists. They must define their taste and for this Need time and variety of reading.
10. Carry out reading activities. Be creative!
To encourage the reading habit and develop interest in reading not necessarily Is to be read.
Different learnings should be encouraged and encouraged in children. Reading and writing must be rethought in teaching.
Reading can be lived and experienced not only in an instrumental way but also in a creative and recreational way.
There are many games readers can do: create poetry, do writing workshops, play with rhymes, riddles, dramatizations, book-forum...
They can reinvent stories, change the ending to stories, make stories from the reverse... all this involves offering creative writing that allows learning and Interested in reading from another point of view.
It is about generating pleasure, so you should read but also think about attractive activities that allow the child or teenager to penetrate the world of the reading.
For example, reading through cooking recipes (preparing cookies or a cake) can also be accessed, and help you find the recipe and To read it as a natural process of established dynamics.
Daily and everyday situations can be used to read. In the day to day there are many things to read. Involve children in this awake task Curiosity about reading.
It is important not to obsess about learning to read or being constantly telling them to read. Spend time, read with them, tell them many Stories... All this will arouse curiosity about books.
Animation to reading involves developing the imagination and the creativity , Curiosity, a playful and positive climate, become aware of the Importance of books as a source of information and culture.
The animation to the reading aims to improve the habit and the reading quality, to extend the horizons of the children, to learn to value and to take care of the material bibliographic.
It aims to develop the lexicon, acquire more communicative competence, use dialogue, form thought.
11. Create communication situations
An alternative to awakening a liking for reading is to create situations where you invite your children to express themselves about reading.
You can comment on what you have read, what you liked, what you admire from a book... You can ask them about their tastes, the book they have read.
When you read with them, be attentive to the reactions they present. This will allow you to comment later on certain parts of the reading.
Explain words that do not understand, is a very useful way to expand vocabulary. When you finish reading, you can ask about Characters, which end could have been the alternative, what do you think it will happen next...
How should the animation be to reading?
The family is the place where children develop socially and psychologically. He is the first agent of socialization of the child.
Norms, values, attitudes towards the world that affect their development and the way of seeing the world are acquired primarily in the home, Through their parents.
Surveys indicate that children read, but not out of interest, rather out of obligation. New technologies and other leisure offers are eating Ground to reading. We must strive to make reading an interesting and fun leisure alternative for them.
The animation of reading should be part of a global and continuous program, where all the agents that influence the development of the child act in the same direction.
The animation must be voluntary. The child has to want to participate in the reading so as not to generate the opposite effect to the desired one.
In addition, it must be active. Reading is active and dynamic, the child listens, reads, plays from everything he discovers through reading. Has to Participate, be a participant in the process.
Develop reading programs that take into account the age of the participants, learn about their reading habits, collaborate with families, Libraries, librarians, cultural associations... It is a very good option to develop the reader habit.
Reading is a complex process where not only cognitive and linguistic factors are involved, also contextual or environmental, which are fundamentally the Which facilitate the acquisition of reading.
The family is the one who exerts a clearer and direct influence in the reading motivation of the children and the pleasure by the books is awakened by the Motivation and interest.
Reflections on reading
The issue of lack of reading in the population is frequent in all age groups, affecting children, adolescents and adults.
In the global world in which we develop, reading is also influenced by the number of different activities competing with it in the Leisure and leisure alternatives.
School and family are the main agents of socialization of the child and the main environments where his education is developed.
And for all this, the relationships established between these two educational agents and the fact that they both look in the same direction are important.
The importance of reading and the interest that can awaken for children is a relevant and indispensable task not only from the school, but also From the family.
The promotion of reading must be approached from a social, cultural, educational, and political perspective. Reading should be a priority in the The individuals.
What is reading?
Reading involves properly executing four different processes that take place before a text:
A) perception, where the person extracts the signs and recognizes the different linguistic units (words).
B) the lexicon, which gives meaning to the different words (in memory we have a lexical store).
C) the syntax, where we analyze the various words that are in the sentences and give a grammatical sense to them.
D) the semantic, which is the process that gives meaning to the message.
All these processes influence the reading and the way the person reads. However, we must also take into account the context where the person Is developed, which also influence it.
The essence of reading involves building a meaning through the personal and intimate encounter between the individual who reads, the reader, and the text itself, the Author.
In this process both the emotional and cognitive world of the writer converge through words and the reader's voice.
Reading is an active process where the reader, in the encounter with the book, takes an active role and builds the meaning of words and message Of the writer, that which has real meaning for him.
In reading the subject sets in motion a series of cognitive processes and these, in turn, activate the previous knowledge of the subject that will act as Frame of reference in reading.
Therefore reading is important in language competence, in the formal learning of the child in school and also throughout his life.
And you, what do you do to foster the habit of reading?
References
- Gil Flores, J. (2009). Habits and attitudes of families towards reading and basic competences of students. Journal of Education , 350, 301-322.
- [Links] The animation to the reading in the libraries... The construction of a path towards the reading. Newsletter of the Andalusian Society of Librarians , 103, 59-78.
- Molina, L. (2006). Reading and education: reading habits and their academic repercussions in compulsory secondary education. Ocnos, 2, 105-122.
- Moreno, E. (2001). Analysis of the influence of the family on the reading habits of their daughters and sons: an ethnographic study. Educational Contexts, 4, 177-196.
- Salazar, S. and Ponce, D. (1999). Reading habits. Institute of book and reading.
- Yubero, S., Larrañaga, E. (2010). The value of reading in relation to reader behavior. A study on reading habits and lifestyle in children. Ocnos , 6, 7-20.