HRM Parent Blog

by guest blogger Lorelei Burgess, Centre Director Oxford Learning. 

At a BBQ on Canada Day, I overheard a dad tell his son to put his book away. He told him it was rude to read when they had guests unless he was reading to them. I chuckled and asked if he’d ever thought he’d be telling his 7 year old son to put his book away.

Watching children read is exciting! It doesn’t matter how old they are, it’s exciting and it’s especially exciting to see 7 year old boys reading. At an age when boys either choose to read or not to read, the question is, “how can we engage them in reading when there are so many other things they’d rather be doing?”

I get asked this question all the time and I always remind parents that reading comes in many different forms. Children do not have to have a novel in hand to be reading. A magazine subscription is a great way to ignite a love of reading. The anticipation of the delivery or what’s inside the next issue will have your children pouring over the pages without even realizing they’re reading. Don’t worry so much about what your child’s reading as long as they’re reading. If the material is age appropriate and safe, encourage it!

Most kids love to help, so ask them to read the recipe the next time you’re cooking. The newspaper is another great way for kids to “help out” (especially when you’re making dinner and would like to know what’s going on in the news!). Have your child read the story out loud or in their head and summarize, in their own words, what they just read. Making sure they are able to articulate what they read will ensure that they comprehend the text and are not just reading the words.

Make reading a family activity. Children imitate their parents so be sure to demonstrate a love of reading. Have everyone grab their favorite book and head outside on a nice, sunny day. Read as a family – Harry Potter’s not an easy read for many children but it’s a great series to read as a family. Have your children imagine what the characters and scenery look like and discuss it. Encourage the kids to act out scenes. Ask questions: “What do you think will happen next?”, or “What would you have done if that happened to you?”. Link the stories you’re reading to everyday life, and use what your children know about the world to make sense of stories. 

Reading can be done anywhere but the better the locale the more fun children will have doing it. Set-up a tent outside or build a fort! Although reading should be done everyday this summer, it should not become a chore; it should not feel like work. It should be fun!

Reading begins at home.  Excitement!  Enthusiasm!  Fun!  These all come from the pages of books. Make books important in your life.  Teach by example.  Read and talk about books. Have literature around the house. Take trips to the library, park, museum, or zoo; surround these events with comments and questions that can be answered using books.

Remember: Kids learn to read and then read to learn so don’t underestimate the importance of a good book!

With two locations in Halifax, Oxford Learning goes beyond tutoring, to help ignite your child’s interest in learning, not just for one school year, but for a lifetime. To find out more on how they can assist your children, visit their facebook page or website.