LibGuides: Parents: How to Raise a Reader

Why reading is so important

How to keep older kids reading (Mums Lyfe)
This article by Mums Lyfe lists different ways you can encourage older kids to keep reading and why it is so important to do so.

Raise a reader

Scholastic Parents: Raise a reader
Check out this blog on what parents can do to encourage their children to read. Don't forget to check out the links to resources, literacy games and book lists at the bottom of the page.

This YouTube video about Jackie French was produced by Australian of the Year Awards in 2015. In this video Jackie shares her love of books and how she wrote her first book at 6 years of age. Jackie is dyslexic and yet has written over 150 books. She is a passionate advocate for raising a reader and in this video says that "reading and stories are the most powerful things you can give to a child" (Jackie French, 2015). You can find out more about Jackie French on her website. To see all the books Jackie French has published visit here.

As a parent or carer of a child the most powerful thing you can do to encourage them to read is let them see you reading. It doesn't have to be a novel, it might just be the newspaper or a magazine but by modelling the behaviour you desire to see in your child you are encouraging them to do the same.

Inspiremykids.com has 20 inspiring quotes about reading for kids and students.

Story Time from Space - Literacy and STEM

Storytime from Space
"Now imagine Astronauts on the Space Station reading stories to and conducting science experiments for the children of Earth as the world rotates below.
Imagine no more…it’s Story Time from Space!" (Storytime from Space Website, 2014)

Written by: Mark Kelly| Read by: Scott Kelly | Run Time: 8:07 Minutes

Read to my child

Read to my child
Read to my child website is aimed at children 0 to 5 years of age, however older children may still enjoy listening to some of the stories. It is the ideal place to go if you have just finished reading 5 books to your child and they are still demanding more! The website is easy to navigate and you can even make a request for a certain book to be read. You can watch the YouTube video below which has been produced by Read to my child. In this video Jasmine reads The Very Cranky Bear by Nick Bland, published by Scholastic Australia.

Image: http://www.readtomychild.com.au/

Let children read anything!

The Guardian - Jeff Kinney " Let children read anything; I'll never say no to a book"
This article in the Australian Edition of The Guardian encourages parents to let reluctant readers choose what they want to read. Audio books are also suggested to help reluctant readers engage with literature and know that reading is fun.

Graphic Novels

The Graphic Novel Is a Perfect Teachable Format - Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly explains why graphic novels are the perfect teachable format.

Tips for encouraging your child to read

Reading Rockets is a great website that provides tips for encouraging your child to read and gives helpful advice if your child is struggling to read.