| At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy | | | | And don't worry about how old your child is when |
| Parent's Guide" but then I realized that most parents | | | | they learn to read. If they're reading at 3 or at 8, |
| aren't lazy, but they may have a slightly different | | | | studies show that it makes little difference in their |
| philosophy about children and learning. | | | | intelligence or ability by the time they reach middle |
| If you're a big reader yourself or if you're | | | | school. |
| homeschooling, you're probably concerned about how | | | | 4) Pick topics that interest your child |
| to teach your child to read. Reading is one of the | | | | My oldest son's interest in reading really skyrocketed |
| most important skills a person can learn, and a great | | | | when we started the Series of Unfortunate Events |
| joy in life. | | | | books by Lemony Snicket. We would sit for hours |
| My laid-back methods of teaching a child to read: | | | | and read aloud together when he was only 5 or 6. |
| 1) Be a reader yourself | | | | Visit Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events |
| Children naturally want to copy adult behavior. If your | | | | for more information about these books. |
| kids see you often with your nose in a book, they | | | | These books were technically above his age level, |
| will probably begin to wonder what is so interesting | | | | but I advise you to forget all that. |
| about this activity. | | | | John Holt, the legendary educator and author, has |
| 2) Read to your kids | | | | been quoted as saying: |
| This is probably a huge no-brainer. Read to your kids | | | | "It's nice to have children's books, but far too many |
| early and often. And don't read in order to "teach | | | | of them have too much in the way of pictures. |
| your child how to read". I believe that the best way | | | | When children see books, as they do in the family |
| to teach your child to read is to NOT teach your child | | | | where the adults read, with pages and pages and |
| to read! | | | | pages of print, it becomes pretty clear that if you're |
| Read to your child because you enjoy it and it's fun. | | | | going to find out what's in those books, you're going |
| Some forward-thinking education experts believe that | | | | to have to read from that print. I don't think there's |
| the teaching of reading is mostly what prevents | | | | any way to make reading interesting to children in a |
| reading. After all, don't adults read as a means to an | | | | family in which it isn't interesting to adults." |
| end? Because they want to learn something or | | | | So let your child pick books from the library or |
| because they enjoy the act of reading? | | | | bookstore and don't concern yourself about whether |
| 3) Don't worry so much | | | | the titles are "age appropriate". |
| Don't worry about a right or wrong way of reading | | | | 5) Strictly limit TV and other electronic media |
| to your child. | | | | A growing body of evidence is pointing to the fact |
| If your preschool-age child isn't interested in books | | | | that TV, video games and computer usage are |
| yet, or won't sit still for more than 30 seconds to | | | | hurting our children's interest in reading. TV and video |
| finish a story, don't fret. | | | | games rewire the brain and teach it to be lazy. |
| If your 3 year old wants to point at pictures or turn | | | | Reading is much more work, because the mind can't |
| to favorite pages and ask a million questions, don't | | | | be passive while engaging in it (unlike plug-in |
| fuss. | | | | entertainment). Kids who get bored are more likely |
| Children learn in different ways than adults do and I | | | | to pick up a book. |
| don't think anyone knows enough about the human | | | | Above all, have fun snuggling up with your child and |
| mind to figure it all out. Make reading together | | | | enjoy reading together! |
| pleasant, not stressful. | | | | |