The Importance of Reading to Your Children 

      Did you know that, on average, children read independently four minutes a day and watch television four hours a day? Parents are the only ones who have the power to change this out of balance statistic. I’m sure you want a child who loves to read, but do you know what you can do to make it happen?

     You begin by removing the television from your child’s room. You have removed the temptation of not having to think, to what can I do instead. Reading has suddenly moved way up on the priority list of things to do instead of watching television, playing X-Box or playing computer games. Statistics show that children who love to read almost never have a television in their bedroom.

     Children up to the age of ten absolutely relish the opportunity to sit, side-by-side with an adult they love and be read to, (this can even be the case for children over the age of ten). Find a time when your child is bored or looking for something to do and suggest a book that you can read together. Bedtime is usually a good time, and you can always give your child a choice, “Do you want to go to bed or would you like to stay up another ten minutes and I can read to you?” You can imagine what choice your child will make, but just remember whatever their choice, stick with it. It is great to read a “page-turner” and stop at an exciting part of the story. Your child may even beg to read ahead to find out what happened. Make reading fun and your child will love reading. It’s that simple, and you will find the time if you feel it is important.

     We as adults have tremendous influence on our children. If we have lots of books, magazines and reading material around the house that we are picking-up at every spare moment to read we are modeling this for our children. Children who are read to are successful in school and it is something every parent can do for their child. If you need ideas or recommendations of books to read to your child ask your child’s teacher. They would be happy to help as would I.