How to Develop Better Reading Habits
In a world where people often turn to video games, the Internet, and television for entertainment, developing good reading habits has grown even more important. A recent study found that reading fiction improves brain function, while another study shows that it can help in the brain development of children. If you are trying to get your kids more excited about books or even if you just want to read more often yourself, making literacy a regular part of your life can lead to an increase in reading enthusiasm for all ages.
Make a Date to Read
Set up a schedule for reading and stick to it. Scheduling a time to read is crucial for creating positive reading habits, especially for children. The Alliance After School reports show that reading as little as 10 minutes a day can increase the literacy skills of children. Regardless of age, however, establishing a literary routine can help you learn to expect and be prepared by knowing what you are reading and plan ahead for your next book. To reinforce the habit, make sure you read at a specific time each day. For example, you could try cracking open a book after dinner every night or read during your lunch break. As long as you are able to to open your books at least once a day, you can choose whatever time of day you like.
Join a Reading Program
Often practiced during the summer holidays, library reading programs encourage children to pursue coherent literacy habits, log their reading time, and receive rewards for their efforts. Children who participate in these programs from the age of 4 often continue to read for pleasure in adulthood. For adults, joining a book club can create a similar responsibility by offering an informal interactive book under discussion. Joining a book club will not only help to create a literary community, but can also help you practice critical thinking related to reading.
Try to Read the Type of Book You Like
If you really want to develop the habit of reading, the first thing to do is to find books that you would find pleasure in reading. So I suggest you start trying out different types of books. Don’t go blindly by internet suggestions or just stick to critically acclaimed books initially. Many critically acclaimed books are for heavy readers and require a lot of discipline and patience to complete. To acquire that kind of discipline, go for easy-reading, mass market novels first and then explore the horizon in other genres. Once you get over those kind of books, you can graduate to more complex ones thereafter.
Limit TV Time
You or your children pulling away from the TV, smart phones, video games, and computers can remove a major obstacle and help you or your children to find time to read. Try taking away technology privileges until required reading time has been completed for the day. While the reward for reading will feel like television or the other form of technology you withheld until the reading was completed, over time you will learn to enjoy reading as well. The benefits of reading and the books will become the reward. If you want your children to read more, a positive example is by reading for pleasure yourself and keeping books around the house to remind you to read every day. Also, try to explain to your children why it is important to read for a brighter future, thereby making the future world better.
Talking Books
Talking and writing about what you read can help you with books and creative ideas. This is especially true for children who are still new to reading comprehensions. If your children are beginner readers, try to engage them in conversations about what books they are reading and help them reflect on the stories to generate excitement about their reading time. To help you deal with your thoughts about the books you read for yourself, try writing reviews for online bookstores, or join a social network like Goodreads, which allows users to share what books they read and discuss their reactions with others.
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