| Are you aware that there is a crisis in the American | | | | sure to check out some books before you leave the |
| educational arena today? That the children who live in | | | | library! Make some of the books fun and at age level |
| the greatest super power country of the entire | | | | also get some books that will challenge your child's |
| world are no longer the brightest nor the best | | | | thinking and imagination. Different topics in different |
| educated children any more! | | | | areas; stories, science, history. Open up different |
| In fact, colleges are crying out for help because the | | | | areas for your child to see and explore. |
| average freshman college student does not have the | | | | - Ask questions when you are done reading. What |
| reading comprehension to read an assignment, | | | | was your child's favorite part of the story, which |
| contribute to a class discussion and certainly not able | | | | was their favorite character? How would they of |
| to write a college term paper. | | | | liked the story to have ended? |
| What can we do? Educators in all grade levels are | | | | - Let your child follow their interests in their reading |
| pointing away from the high tech gadgets that | | | | material. Do they love horses; are they into World |
| today's child spends countless hours on and towards | | | | War 1? What a great way for them to learn and |
| an old forgotten favorite; books. | | | | enjoy their favorite subject. And don't worry; their |
| But some say that their children are not interested in | | | | interests usually shift before they run out of books in |
| reading, that they don't enjoy nor like reading. Here | | | | that topic. Especially, if new topics are available for |
| are 10 different ways to help your child to love | | | | them to glance at. |
| reading. | | | | - Give books as gifts. This is the perfect time to |
| - Set the example for reading. Let your child see you | | | | invest money into nice hardbound books of a |
| read an assortment of different items from the mail, | | | | favorite author or series. To finish the series that the |
| to the newspaper to books. Be willing to share from | | | | child knows or to introduce a new author, ask the |
| your reading, is there a story in the paper that will | | | | child. What a perfect time to build a nicely stocked |
| affect your community, a funny section from your | | | | library in your home. A child can't grab a book and |
| book. The dinner table makes an excellent place for | | | | enjoy a few minutes of quiet time if you don't have |
| everyone to share something from what they are | | | | books in your home. |
| reading. | | | | - Make time for reading. Turn off the TV, limit the |
| - Read out loud to your child everyday. Get into the | | | | computer. Have a "20 minute read-a-thon." Have a |
| story, use different voices for the characters, be as | | | | fun reading contest; whoever reads the most pages |
| silly as possible. Lower your voice in soft parts of the | | | | in a set time wins a fun prize (maybe a trip to a |
| story and then grow loud at exciting times. Reading | | | | bookstore!) There is reading contests through |
| isn't just for bedtime; make a tent in the living room | | | | businesses were the child can earn a free prize. Pizza |
| and snuggle with blankets and pillows. Or enjoy a | | | | Hut offers a free personal pan pizza, Dairy Queen, a |
| story outside on the back porch. That's the beauty | | | | free ice cream cone. Ask your local businesses about |
| of books, they can go anywhere. | | | | the contests they run or just stick with creating your |
| - Make a weekly trip to the library. There is usually a | | | | own. |
| story hour at the library and sharing a story with | | | | - Have your child create their own book. They can |
| others is always fun. For older kids have them join a | | | | print the story, illustrate it. |
| book club or start one if there isn't one going. Make | | | | |