Not every child is a born elocutionist but all parents want that their child should be well-read and take full advantage of the treasure of knowledge books provide. If it is taking some time for your child to cozy up with a book, Clinical psychologist Prachi S Vaish suggests these tips to give your child a nudge.
Begin early
If you want to cultivate an interest of books in your child, you have to start early, right from the time they are toddlers. If in the first months of their life they are treated to the magical world of stories and fun characters, they will learn to love their books. So establish a bedtime story tradition in your house and treat your kids to wonderland.
Variety is the spice
You got your kid a book about birds but all he did was flip through it once and brushed it aside? Well may be birds is not his thing! Don’t get disheartened if they don’t warm up to a particular subject. And never stop by saying that when he didn’t like this one, why waste money on getting more? Start by getting him simple inexpensive books on a variety of topics like animals, vehicles, fruits and veggies, fishes etc. and something or the other is bound to create a spark. If he doesn’t get to see what all is out there, how will he choose?br>
Patience and persistence
Once they pick a book they like they will want to go over it again and again, asking you the same questions every time. Children do not get tired by looking at same picture even 10 times a day, and each time is equally exciting for them. So do not get irritated and tell him not to bug you…he will start to wonder why he should take an interest in the book when you don’t.
Everything counts
A reading hobby does not mean that your chid should be seen with fat books all the time. He may enjoy comic books or even newspapers and magazines (as he grows older) more than story books and fairy tales. All reading is good reading. Just make sure that you supervise the quality of comic books and magazines that come in to your house. For instance, if magazines are what he enjoys, a subscription to National Geographic may be the best thing to opt for.
You cannot change a child’s personality but it is not impossible to mold it in more creative ways. So if you manage to provide all the options for a good reading pleasure and also make it fun for him by your involvement, he will definitely grow up to love these banks of knowledge.
