How to Raise a Bookworm. We Bring You 10 Engaging And Educative Ways

"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." - American Academic Charles William Eliot

If books can be friends, counselors, and teachers, shouldn't we encourage our children to embrace them? Today, with the lure of technology, most children are hooked to gadgets. So, how do we get them to read?

Here's how to raise bookworms:

Read books: If your child sees you with a book in your hand during every free moment of yours, they will be inspired to pick up one, too. Also, introduce books to your child even when they are only a few months old. Read from bathtub books, board books, musical books, tactile books, etc. Once your child grows up, you can read aloud picture books. Then, you can move on to reading along with them. Finally, you can get them to read on their own.

Gift books: While choosing gifts for birthdays and other special occasions, ensure that books are your priority and your child's. Go in for a wide variety of books. Of course, make sure they are age-appropriate. Books are treasures your child will cherish even after growing up. Let their collection grow along.

Design reading corners: Make sure your house has quiet and comfortable reading corners. A bay window, a hammock in the garden, a stone bench in the balcony, or an alcove in the living area can prove to be ideal places to set up your reading corner. Bean bags, rugs, cushions, and recliners can all provide a cozy feel in the corner. Designing such reading corners allows your child to settle down comfortably and enjoy a good read.

Provide storage for books: Wherever possible, place shelves and book racks so that you and your children can pick up your books and leave them back there. Also, when the books catch your child's eye every time they pass by, they will be motivated to pick up one and read it.

Enroll in a library: Of course, it may not be possible to buy all the books that you want for your child. So, enrolling your child in the local library would be best. Take your child along until they are old enough to go independently and choose the books they want to read. You can also have book-pooling, just as we have car-pooling. Family members and friends can borrow each other's books to read. That way, you may not have to spend much on books. In fact, you could even set up your own circulating library in your family or friends' circle.

Participate in literary clubs: By participating in literary clubs, your child will get an opportunity to discuss the books read, debate about the plots, and analyze the characters. This, again, will motivate them to read more and more.

Form family reading circles: There is nothing like forming family reading circles. A group of members in your extended family can form a circle and come up with a list of books to read within a period. They can even meet to discuss the books. Occasionally, they can also organize book-reading sessions. All these activities will only keep your child hooked to books.

Allocate daily reading time: Set aside a particular time every day for reading. Ensure that there are no disturbances during that time; ban screens and phones. If the entire family engages in reading during a particular time slot every day, it will keep your child interested in reading.

Create book lists: Compile a reading list for the family. Get your child to choose the books they want to read and include them in the list. Make sure to include various genres. Keep in mind that the titles should be age-appropriate.

Draw up a reading plan: Along with the reading list, you can also develop a reading plan for, say, six months or a year. That'll motivate your child to keep reading towards a goal. It'll also provide some healthy competition within the family to see who reads the maximum number of books within a stipulated period.