Friends Christian School promotes reading as a critical skill needed in the development of strong, well rounded and confident students. We believe reading sets students up for success in all areas of their lives and facilitates learning in EVERY subject.
Parents often find many reasons why promoting reading is hard:
“My child does not enjoy curling up with a book.”
“My kid is so busy with sports during the week, we don’t have time.”
“My kid just likes looking at pictures in magazines and won’t touch a book.”
“As a parent, I don’t have time to make sure they do their reading. If they say they read, I believe them.”
What are ways parents can engage kids so that reading is not a chore?
- Read to them for 20 minutes a day – even if your child can read, reading to them stimulates their interest and having them follow along may support their absorption.
- Have them pick the book or subject matter – pay attention to what your child is interested in and point them toward that section of the library.
- Break up the reading time – reading for 10 minutes before practice and 10 minutes before dinner when they get home is 20 minutes of reading .
- Encourage your kids to read together. Older kids spur on the younger ones and being a leader builds confidence in the older ones.
- Studies have shown that reading comics and even road signs count as meaningful practice!
Research from many institutions supports the need for reading at an early age. And the best news is that it is never too late. Reading practice forms new pathways in the brain, making reading more fun, easier, and more stimulating for the imagination. Reading to your children allows them to practice “seeing” the story.
Friends Christian School never gives up encouraging our students to set reading goals, retain read information, and think about the material. To read everyday enhances even the busiest student’s understanding of the world around them.
