By Books Author Denise Turney
Despite what you might think, many kids love reading books. As long as I can remember, I have loved to read books. Even more, I’m from the school of book readers who loves holding a paperback in my hands. Could be the scent wafting off the pages. Or it could be the way that it feels to hold a good book against my stomach while I flip the pages.
Benefits of Reading Books
Like a train, boat or airplane, books took me to different places. In fact, it’s how I got to Paris, Kenya, Spain and Australia while I was growing up in housing projects. And, all the journey cost me was an active imagination, concentration and a library card. Oh, and the help of talented authors who knew how to use a pen to carve out worlds of wonder.
Back then, I read 35 to 50 books a month. Every Single Month. On top of that, I ran track, kept up my school work and wrote poems and short stories. Honestly, there are times when I think that books may have saved me from experiencing the full sting of trauma.
Reasons Kids Turn Away From Reading Books
Yet, benefits aside, it’s not always easy to help kids love books. In fact, some kids don’t like reading books because they think that they’d have to invest too much time into a book, even really good books. Other reasons why kids might turn away from reading books include:
- Reading books feels too much like being back in school
- Ebook reader stories are a turnoff due to having to stare at a screen
- Story topics aren’t exciting to kids
- Other events, choices vie for their attention
- Parents, other adults and older siblings telling them reading books is boring
- Benefits of finding good books to read is hidden from kids
Advantages to Kids from Finding Good Books to Read
Fortunately, there are a myriad of benefits that can be gained from reading books. Chance to explore other parts of the world is just one benefit. More benefits gained from digging into the best books to read include:
- Increased empathy – While exploring books to read, kids can learn about different cultures. They can also learn how people experiencing challenges similar to their own feel. Even more, when kids love books, they can see how these same people overcome challenges. This alone can be inspiring, motivating and empowering.
- Brain strength – Reading exercises the brain. According to Reading Horizons, the brain’s occipital lobe and the parietal lobe are stimulated while reading books. This stimulation helps kids process visual information. It also helps kids process letters into words.
- Reading comprehension – The more kids love books, the stronger their reading comprehension can become. Whether kids are reading children’s books in print or via an ebook reader, the more they read, the easier it may become for them to understand what’s shared in a story. As it regards school, kids may shorten the time it takes to study for tests. Additionally, they might recognize what to focus on in a book, including non-fiction textbooks.
More Advantages of Kids Finding Good Books to Read
This happened for me. Granted, it took several years of avid book reading. But after reading kids’ books, I could spot areas teachers were likely to focus on in tests. Soon, I could read textbooks and know just what to highlight and zone in on.
More reasons for kids to find good books to read are to exercise their imagination and to open themselves to new ideas. Also, characters in some children’s books may keep kids from feeling alone. For example, a child who’s being bullied in school might feel less alone while reading a kids books series about a girl who’s also dealing with bullying.
Reaping Rewards When Kids Love Books
Building a broader vocabulary is another advantage for kids finding good books to read. Also, if kids read more advanced books as they age, it can help them maintain healthy cognitive abilities. Other advantages include:
- Supports healthy sleeping
- Improves concentration
- Lowers stress (a plus in a busy digital world)
- Aids healthy self-esteem (Of course, this depends on the books that kids read. Good books to read can support healthy self-esteem.)
Tips to Help Kids Love Books
Yet, with all the advantages and benefits of reading kids books, it can be hard to get kids to read. So, how can you encourage kids to read more books?
Check out these tips. For starters, let your kids see you reading books. This next tip is closely connected to the first. When your children are young, read good books to them. Other actions that you can take to help kids love books are:
- Turn your kids’ favorite books into a play that the entire family can participate in
- Let your children pick the books they want to read
- Ask your children questions about books they read
- Buy your kids books for their birthday and on holidays. They make great additions to other gift options.
- Make a trip to your local bookstore fun. For example, you can go to brunch, then to the bookstore and later to a movie.
- Take crayons and draw cartoons based on book characters and plots to help kids love reading books
- Get your kids a library card. Also, let your kids participate in fun library events.
Fans of Good Books
Even more, you may find it beneficial to let your kids read good books with you. For instance, you can read parts of a book and let your kids read other parts. As you see the benefits of your kids reading books, you might encourage reading more.
Who knows? Along the way, you might find good books to read and become a book lover yourself. And, kids who become fans of good books might grow up and pass book reading on to their children. In today’s world, you have more options.
Thanks to the digital world, you can find good books for your kids to enjoy on an ebook reader. Furthermore, your kids can read free or discounted books online. If their school has a book club, they can even share their thoughts and feelings about books they read with their classmates and peers.