Parents communicate their attitude toward reading and literacy through their actions, and children often adopt their parents’ attitudes as their own. If you see reading together as a fun experience and a chance to learn new ideas and words, your child will feel the same way.

Here are some ways to share your enthusiasm for reading and encourage your kids to become readers themselves:

• Let them catch you in the act! A child who sees a parent reading for pleasure will be more motivated to read (or just look at books, if your child is a toddler).
• Explain new words. When you come across a new word, ask your child to guess what the word might mean. Discuss any clues to the meaning that appear in the text. Then explain the full meaning of the word, and give another example of the word in a sentence.
• Look it up. As your child gets older, if you’re reading together and there’s a word or concept that you’re both unfamiliar with, look it up. You’ll both be learning something together—and showing your child that learning is more than just a kid thing.

See also ...

• Reading to your toddler 
• Reading aloud 

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