Kiddipedia

Kiddipedia

Media kindly brought to you by School Yard Publishing Stories

In a world of increasing screen time, it can be an uphill battle to get kids off the iPad, iPhone and gaming devices in favour of a book. Exposure to books and the written word is a gift that will help your kids academically, creatively, and socially, so it’s important to encourage the reading bug. In fact, research has shown that recreational reading in children leads to higher literacy and language development, improved brain function, and improved self-confidence and motivation to learn.

A reluctance for reading can often stem from children being intimidated by it, but another key barrier is that kids can perceive books as boring. That is, until they find the stories to capture their imagination. Rest assured that there is a book out there to delight *every* child. You’ll know when they find it – they’ll be quietly devouring it and then telling you about it later in animated detail!

Our friends at Schoolyard Publishing Stories know this better than most, through their publishing and fundraising efforts for schools, organisations  and parents. They are on a mission to advance childhood literacy and strengthen communities through the power of the written word.

Here are their tips to instil a love of reading in your children.

Find books to match your child’s interests & identity

Just like adult readers, kids will gravitate towards topics that interest them. To ensure a passion for reading takes root, handpick some books with characters more likely to appeal to your child’s personality. For example, if your child is shy, they are sure to relate to a story in which the central character faces the world in a similar way. Alternatively, if your child is more of an adventurer, mimic that in their book selection. If they can imagine themselves as the hero of the story, they’re more likely to keep reading to see what happens at the end. As a bonus, it will teach them self-awareness, and eventually, they’ll be curious enough to step out of their comfort zone to explore different characters and worlds.

Get them hooked on a series or a book adapted for the screen

A book series is a fantastic way to embed a habit of reading in your kids. It creates anticipation for the next installment of the story, and teaches them perseverance. Perhaps best of all, it’s a confidence builder. Prior to starting a series, many kids (especially the younger ones) assume that getting through 3 or 4 books is either impossible or just plain boring. Get them hooked on the storyline of the first one however, and soon enough they’ll easily have 3 or 4 books under their belt and realise that reading is not such a daunting thing after all. Cast your mind back to the series that first got you hooked – maybe it was The Babysitter’s Club or Harry Potter. It’s an important milestone and the memories of which can last a lifetime. You could also backtrack to find books that inspired the movies your kids love watching. They invariably carry more storyline details, and the prospect of missing out on more adventures with the characters they love, should have the kids reaching for the book.

Start a book challenge

Starting a rewards-based book challenge at home can help support kids’ literary development. More often than not, your kids will already be participating in a book program at school, and this is a chance to reinforce their enthusiasm or set them on the right track if they’re falling behind their classmates. As we know, kids benefit from structure, so a physical ‘reader’ is an important tool to track progress. Many parents will recall their own readers, and the excitement of covering it with the latest colourful contact. Lead by example with your kids – if they see you reading and sharing the experience with them, they’ll be more likely to follow suit. Whether you add a more competitive element to the book challenge or keep it as a simple family exercise, it shouldn’t become a chore. Treat it as a bonding experience and keep it social, until your kids are motivated to read alone and without prompting.

Make them a published author!

Imagine if your child was able to tell their own story and see it in a real book they can proudly present to friends and family. Schoolyard Publishing Stories makes that vision a reality. They help children get excited about reading, writing and illustrating, by featuring their work in a real, published book, in addition to helping schools raise funds in a meaningful way.

  • Children get to see their hand drawn pictures and work published in a real book
  • The books help support literacy outcomes
  • The book helps schools raise funds in a meaningful way
  • The books strengthen communities and work towards a common goal
  • The books help develop proud student authors, this provides a sense of achievement

Involving kids in the storytelling process has a tremendous effect on their confidence and enthusiasm. And who knows – you may be inspiring your child to become the next great Australian author!

To learn more about the great work done by Schoolyard Publishing Stories and get further advice about kids and reading, visit their website: https://schoolyardstories.com.au/storybooks-cookbooks-yearbooks-publishing/about-us/