Encouraging Children To Read: 1st Grade Reading Activities

Benefits of Reading

We know reading strengthens and builds brain connections, improves concentration, teaches children about the world around them, improves a child's vocabulary and creativity (the list goes on). It's therefore vitally important we encourage this generation of kids to read whilst reminding them that it is a great form of entertainment away from the xBox or Playstation.

And there's no time like the present, whether you are a teacher, parent or librarian it's an opportunity to encourage reading and storytelling whilst developing children's literacy skills.

Each and every child should be involved no matter their age or reading ability and with so many literacy teaching resources available to teachers and parents, creating independent, confident readers is easier than ever.

Encouraging Kids to Read

The key to getting kids to learn to read effecively is to ignite their interest and love of reading so they carry on reading outside of the classroom in their own time, out of choice.

Educators and parents should use the day as an opportunity to celebrate reading, books, authors and illustrators. Why not set up book clubs or book swaps and if you can why invite authors or storytellers to your establishment to share their stories and experiences first hand; perhaps even ‘adopt' them for regular visits too. Take popular stories and create themed weeks around them to keep momentum.

A great tip is is to make books visible at all times whether in school or at home, display them wherever you can to trigger interest in reading, out of sight is said after all to mean out of mind.

You can turn to story sacks which provide a ready supply of ways to create a multi-dimensional storytelling, since they can be used both indoors and outdoors they are perfect all year round.

 Make Reading Fun

Puppets and props are also very popular ways to bring stories to life; as is role play, encouraging the children to act out the characters they are reading and learning about. Turning stories into games is a fun and less pressured way of creating stories, and promotes involvement form everyone.

A familiar technique is for the pupils to delve into their own experiences, days out, family holidays and use these events to write their own stories; it's not just about improving their reading skills but inspiring their creativity and writing skills.

When I was younger I recall a popular TV show had the ironic caption "turn off the TV and do something less boring instead!" so let's do just that and support this "big, loud, happy celebration of reading", a world where stories or books are no longer desired is simply unimaginable for me.