Creating a Bookworm in Your Family

Enthusiastic readers are made, not born. Parental intervention and encouragement gets the ball rolling and keeps it rolling. Here’s how you can transform your child into a world-class reader.

1.  Start early. If possible, begin exposing your child to books from birth. Even though you may feel like reading to a baby is a useless task, through this process your child will become accustomed to how books “work.” The child will hear you read and will begin to realize the “sound” of reading. Keep reading to your child through the toddler and preschool years. Don’t abandon story time in elementary school. Children of all ages love to be read to.

A true bookworm...reading at the pool!

2.  Provide a wealth of materials in your home. In addition to books, offer newspapers, magazines, comic books, and graphic novels to your child. Even “junk mail” in the form of catalogs can provide a source of reading material.  Allow children to read what interests them, not what you think they should be reading. Boys generally favor nonfiction while girls favor fiction. Any type of reading is still reading, so encourage your child to explore a variety of resources.

3.  Get creative in acquiring materials. If you feel the financial pinch of buying new items, visit your local library. It’s free to acquire a library card, and as long as you don’t incur late fees, the library can keep you stocked in reading material for years. Other low-cost sources include used book stores and garage sales. Parents can also institute a swap policy with families who have kids of similar ages. Load a bucket with books and trade with another family for a month.

If your family uses e-readers, check for free or low cost books that you can download. Most public libraries now have books that can be “checked out” for your e-reader. The website www.bookbub.com will send you a daily e-mail with free and low cost books in your chosen genre. The selections from Book Bub are appropriate for teens and adults.

4.  Set an example. Kids who see their parents read on a regular basis are more apt to do it themselves. Make a concerted effort to read in front of your children, and let them know that it’s a priority for you. If you’re not a fan of chapter books, consider the resources discussed above. Magazines, newspapers, and graphic novels still qualify as reading.

5. Unplug the electronics.  Precious hours of the day are wasted sitting in front of electronic devices. Institute a daily time where there can be no electronics in use. Encourage kids to fill this time with reading. You can make an exception for e-readers as long as they are only for reading.

6.  Find common ground. Once your child becomes older, take time to read some of the same books. This provides common ground for you and your child. Have discussions about the books – the characters, the exciting highs and lows, and anticipation for sequels to be released. Not only does this encourage your child to read, it helps to keep a line of communication open between the child and the parents.

Meeting with YA author Peter Lerangis at an author event.
Check your local bookstores for these free author moments.
It's a great way to excite your child about reading!

7.  Celebrate books. Popular book series garner quite a following among both kids and adults. Book release parties and author visits are some of the events that accompany the release of new books in a popular series. Participate in these events with your child, and go out of your way to make these memorable moments.

8.  Spend time in bookstores and libraries. Make the bookstore a destination. Take the time to browse for an afternoon. Books on every topic can be found on the shelves, and hours can be spent searching and reading. We are fortunate to have wonderful library and bookstore resources in our area. Make great use of what’s available to encourage reading.

It’s never too late to instill the love of reading to your child. Consistent implementation of the techniques described above will, over time, turn your child into a bookworm and will set the stage for a lifetime of reading enjoyment.