This is a great but also very hard question. I don’t know if I’ve really thought about spreading a love of reading before. I’d like to think I’ve inspired a few people to pick up books they might not otherwise have tried, but even then, mostly they’re people who already have some interest in reading. Everyone who comes here, I assume, is already a convert.
So I guess the only experience I have of this is being a mother. I had no idea what I was doing – I’ve never been in charge of a kid before – but reading is such a big thing for me that my kid has been surrounded by books literally since day one. We have always read aloud every day, and then used to go to the library and get book recommendations from the experts – the people who really spread a love of reading – the librarians and book sellers.
I don’t know what the future holds as my kid is still quite young, but so far it seems to be working at least somewhat – my kid will sit and “read” books by looking at the pictures and remembering (with near perfect recall) the story, loves audiobooks, and is starting to figure out how to read alone. So mostly I make sure there’s always time to read, and that new books are coming in regularly so that reading never gets boring. I try to make sure there’s a mix of picture and chapter books, and fiction and non-fiction. I also try to find books about people who have all kinds of different backgrounds and experiences – from different cultures and parts of the world and with good representation. I figure the more diverse the options, the more diverse the reading experience. I even read aloud from books I’m reading if they’re appropriate, and if my kid wants to pick books off my shelves to look at and pretend to read, or wants to choose books for me to read, I welcome those interactions as well.
As for spreading a love of books? I think individuals have very limited impact on this, other than with their immediate families and close friends, and even then, it’s limited. But I do think that supporting local libraries and bookshops – particularly independent ones – is probably the best way to support reading in the community because these are the places that do run campaigns and run events to hype up books, reading and related topics. I also think making sure to support local libraries and other childcare facilities with donations of books is a great idea, because surrounding kids with books is how they grow up enjoying them.
What do you guys think? How have you helped to spread a love of reading? Any teachers/librarians/book sellers out there who have any other great ideas about how we can support literacy in our communities?
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Spreading a love of reading? It’s really the only thing I want to do in this life.
Right????? Yes.
Keep pressing the reading on the kid. That sounds aggressive – lol. But one day you and they will both be grateful for it. My daughter loves reading and she tells me quite often how glad she is that I pressed that on her – it is one of the fews things she did actually listen to me on.
Ha! Yes, I fully encourage it and we do reading lessons regularly. Phonetic writing is starting, and picking out some sight words and sounding out, so I’m hoping we’re on the way!! Yeah, I already don’t get listened to much, but if reading is the one thing they do listen to, well at least it’s a good one and one that will teach them the lessons they ignore!
These are all good ideas.
Haha thanks!