If there is one skill that all children should master, it is reading! Reading is so important for children because they need to use reading to learn all of their other subjects. Without strong reading skills, children may struggle in math, science, social studies and even arts. As adults, they will read everyday no matter what type of job they have.

The question parents should be asking themselves, is it enough to just teach our kids HOW to read?

Kids do not get hooked on phonics. No child has ever got hooked on the sound of “Ch”!

Kids do not get hooked on repetition of single words!

They get hooked on adventures, knowledge, information and entertainment.

They get hooked on BOOKS and STORIES in their COMPLETE form!

They get hooked on READING, not just the mechanics of how to do it.

Teaching a child the basics (like phonics) of HOW to read is important, but reading is NOT just turning symbols into sound! If we do not teach children to WANT to read they will never move beyond the most rudimentary skills. It will never become an enjoyable activity. They will only read when they have to, not because they want to. And this will affect every area of their education. Teaching a child WHY to read, to WANT to read and instilling a love of reading, is even more important, than just how to read! This is what encourages a child to pick up a book and be excited to discover what is inside!

How do parents teach children to WANT to read?

The answer may surprise you… but it has been proven for decades… and is heavily supported teachers, pediatricians and the US board of Education: Read-Aloud to your children every day from 6 months throughout elementary school! It’s that simple!

The commission on reading issued this statement: “Reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for success in reading."

Reading aloud has vast educational benefits that support the “how” of learning to read, but it goes further to create a pleasurable connection to books and what they offer. It allows a parent to pique a child’s interests with entertainment, adventure and knowledge to stoke the fires of their enthusiasm and passion and show them what reading can actually mean – not just what the words say – it resonates. It establishes a reason to learn and the motivation to practice. This is what creates successful, lifelong readers! And this is what creates an enthusiasm for long term education and pursuit of knowledge.