Most parents are concerned about offering their children the best possible upbringing: good nutrition, good education, plenty of leisure so they don't get bored, and a lot of emphasis on learning languages and musical instruments. Also in general, if you were to do a survey of those looking good, the majority would value that their children are good readers, but they do not pursue it with the same effort that they dedicate, for example, to extracurricular activities. Without wanting to put too much of a finger on the issue, many parents feel some guilt if they give sweets or industrial pastries to their children to get by, but they do not get overwhelmed or mortified or comment on it on their social networks if there is no such thing in their house. books or spend any time promoting reading.
These same parents know that reading is essential not only to broaden perspectives, live adventures, learn knowledge, connect with other people and times, but for such pragmatic situations as understanding the statements of exercises and exams, expanding vocabulary or knowing how to express oneself much better. They know this because it has been said all their lives, many times in campaigns to promote reading, that the only thing they have promoted has been to increase the current account of the agencies that have been awarded the contract.
In case it helps, here I leave you a series of concrete and practical recommendations that can help turn your children into good readers… and perhaps in the process give you back the joy of reading. Although we already know that, with parenting, home management, work and adult life in general, if you don't lock yourself in the toilet for a while with a latch you will have little time to read.
- Buy books for your children, but let them choose them. If the budget allows, buy them many, when they want them, and don't come out with a “ask for it for your birthday or for Three Kings in half a year.” Because maybe in a month their desire to read has already passed. The compulsory school supplies do not count and textbooks even less so. May they treasure them in their room, may they have a personal library to read and reread or, simply, to admire and expand with their own savings.
- Read with them in a time blocked just for reading, as a family ritual. Read aloud from the time they are little, every day and every night, even when they know how to read on their own. It is a very brutal moment of family connection, although depending on your age (and depending on how sleepy and how presbyopia you have) it is difficult to endure a while in a bad position on a small bed with the kids on top of you reading without yawning.
- You read too. Not only to lead by example, but because if you are passionate about it you can transmit that passion to them.
- Take them to the library often. Let them discover the infinite offer that is at their disposal. Let them get used to searching, researching, trying books that they might want without budget pressures or space problems at home. There are homes in which, due to lack of time, lack of interest or lack of resources, books do not fit. But in most of the territory you will find a more or less nearby library with decent hours that will compensate for these shortcomings.
- Don't require them to finish a book they don't want to, unless it's a school obligation. Reading never has to be broccoli that is forcibly shoved into you with a spoon, it has to be succulent macaroni that you always crave.
- Respect your particular taste. There is such a variety of genres, formats, themes and tones that it is as easy as giving them what they like, and not overwhelming them with our childhood books that we have at our parents' house. Of course, Roald Dahl, Manolito Gafotas or Mortadelo y Filemón, most of whom we have read, are objectively wonderful and eternal. But if you first want to read books about youtubers, then allow it without condescension or criticism. Because each reader reaches the reading passion through a different entry portal.
- Fight for a (good) school library at school. Almost all centers have a gym and use it, whether the kids like to play sports or not. But in many centers the library continues to be that place of punishment or homework or an altruistic activity carried out by motivated teachers, without a responsible school librarian trained specifically for that mission who can squeeze out all the juice.
- Respect their reading phases. Everyone has more committed reading phases and also times when they don't feel like any book. You have to respect it, because good books will always be waiting to give you joy. On the other hand, forcing reading, like the gym teacher who forced you to do push-ups and sit-ups, will never bring anything good.
- Ask them to give them books on all occasions (birthdays, saints' days, Santa Claus, Three Kings, summer vacations, good grades…). What is not considered “a good gift” ends up not being desired or requested.
- And, most importantly, it encourages reading passion above all else. There are dozens of reasons why reading is highly recommended, but your children neither care nor are interested in them. They will only start reading if they get fun and good times in return.
You can follow Mamas & Papas on Facebook, x or sign up here to receive our biweekly newsletter.
#Book #Day #tips #children #read