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Helping your child learn to enjoy reading is one of the most valuable gifts that you can give to your children. As children spend more time watching television, surfing the internet, and playing video games, reading suddenly seems less exciting to them. As their parent, you have a bigger influence in whether or not they become a life-long reader than almost anyone else in their lives. Here are a few ways you can help your child fall in love with reading:

1. Set a good example by letting your children see you read. If your children see you reading, especially when they're a young age, they will probably want to do so themselves. Let them see you read all sorts of things, not just novels but also newspapers and good magazines.

2. Read out loud to them. Your children are never too young or too old to be read to. Read short books to infants ones that have different textures or bright colorful pictures are excellent for the little ones. As they start to grow older, choose more age appropriate books. Yes, sometimes you'll be asked to read the same story several times in a row but, that's a small price to pay. With your older children, as long as they are willing to listen, feel free to read to them as well. These books will, of course, be longer "chapter" books, but you can break them down into one chapter a day. Even if you can't find the time to read a chapter a day, try to read at least one chapter a week.

3. Discuss your favorite books with them. Often times, one of the greatest thrills of a young reader is talking to their parents about their favorite books. Why not return the favor? Tell them which books you enjoyed at their age and provide them a copy of the book to read. As they move through the book, the two of you can discuss the book together.

4. Provide books as treats. Make it a big deal to go the bookstore and do so regularly. Even if you can't afford to get new books, stop by the used bookstore. Do this at least once a month, but preferably once a week. Make sure to provide plenty of time to allow them to choose the book they want.

5. Get your child their own library card and make many trips to the library. A lot of libraries now have self-checkout scanners and kids seem to get a thrill from checking out their books on their own. This is a great way to spend a few hours, especially during summer when a lot of parents spend time trying to fight off the "I'm bored" blues.

6. Give rewards for reading. This doesn't mean you have to spend tons of money on rewards. It can be simple things like getting to choose where the family goes out to dinner after your child reads five books. It doesn't matter what the treat is as long as your child learns to identify reading as rewarding.

7. Make it fun. Aside from the enjoyment of reading the book itself, try to make it fun to read. For example, if your child is reading The Little House on the Prairie books, consider cooking up an old fashioned dinner like Ma would make or perhaps making "snow candy".

8. Provide books as gifts and suggest that relatives do so as well. This works best if you have your child maintain a list of books that he or she would like to read. When the holidays come around, be sure to give at least one gift from that list.

Helping your child learn to love reading is very important. As your child reads more, reading comprehension increases, a skill needed throughout their entire lives. Furthermore, you've given your child the gift of a simple way to have a good time.

Learn more about this author, Melissa Anne Arant.
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