Read and lead by example
Published 12:08 am Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Tips from children’s librarian Sharon Chastain to help you get your kids reading:
• “First of all, modeling. Read in front of your children. And it doesn’t have to be ‘Moby Dick.’ It can be the newspaper or a magazine. It doesn’t matter what you read, just that your child sees you reading.”
• “Have books around. That’s where the library comes in. You can have a variety of books and change them out every week. And it’s free.”
• “Reduce screen time spent in front of the computer, video game or TV.”
• “Don’t get hung up on 20 minutes (a suggested daily reading regimen). Read when you can. Even if you only have five or 10 minutes, sit down and read a little. Consistency is the key.”
• “Think about reading in a less rigid way, other than a sit-down-in-a-chair-and-read format. Why not make sure your child has a book while waiting for a dentist or doctor’s visit? Or waiting in the car for their brother or sister to finish an activity? Have a book handy for those filler moments.”
