How to cultivate reading habit in kids

Reading books is one of the best hobbies for anyone.The reasons may be obvious.
It improves imagination skills, improves language, vocabulary.
Kids who read don't turn to television and gadgets much.
Also reading habit promotes reasoning and thinking skills.

Let's first look at the common mistakes we do in the process of making kids read.

Never force kids to read books
Some kids are just not so impressed with books or they may have attached some stigma with reading. Whatever the reason is, forcing only makes them repel away books, otherwise they might explore.

Never choose books that you want them to read and impose it on them.
So you may want your kid to be a General knowledge expert and you decide to subscribe to a monthly GK mag.This only leaves a feeling of being forced and may them hate the subject forever!

If you have a toddler who refuses to touch books, let them go and try introducing books to them in a different manner and different time.

Here are the dos

Start a reading habit for yourself.
You may wonder at this if you never have the habit of reading, but it certainly pays.Action speak louder than words.If the kids see you enjoying your book they might try to imitate.As for improving your reading habit, you may not choose bulky novels and confusing titles. Just begin reading a magazine of your choice.

For babies as young as a month old, they are fascinated buy different sounds.Read out loud to them by making funny voices.They will begin associating book with fun.

Older babies love the touch and feel of books and letting them touch and turn pages looking at pictures are fine

Toddlers are challenging in every aspect and making them sit with books is even more challenging. You may want to buy simple,light weight books that are easy to hold. Begin by telling them stories in an animated way. Remember, your effort in making  the story interesting plays a huge part.Kids will truly love it if you make silly faces and funny noises while telling them a story from the book.

For toddlers and older children, take them to a library or a book store where they get to choose books they love. Guide them to choose books and avoid imposing on them ' a really nice book'

Keep renting or buying books periodically.Kids love new things everyday and giving them new books once they are done with the old one, cultivates the interest to read. It kills the boredom of using the same book again.

If you have budget constraints in buying books, you may rent them or even exchange books from family and friends who have kids of the same age group.They may even love the idea.

Finally, if your kid refuses to read, don't advise them on benefits of reading or try to force them into reading.This might create long time impact on them regarding books and the reading habit.
What did you do to make your kids read. Please share in the comments section!

Why you should tell stories to your kids everyday

Remember the stories which your mum and grandmother told you?

The stories that were full of magic and surprises, the stories which were full of awe and inspiration, the stories that provoked your thoughts and stories that pulled you into a world of imagination.
Do we tell stories to our kids?
If your answer is yes, then thumbs up to you.
If not,then why don't you begin today?

Here's why?

You can kindle creativity and curiosity in you kids

Television presents everything in an 'as is' form. There's no room for imagination.When your child sees a flower on television, he sees its colour and form as it is captured.
But when you tell a story you describe a flower like this 'The rose flower that the princess adored on her locks was a beautiful red rose.It has tiny petals in the middle and a bud in its centre,The outer petals had bloomed and were much bigger.
The rose flower was soft and smelled great.It has a green stem and nice big green leaves.The princess liked it a lot'

Imagine, this could take you the kid to a visual tour. He imagines how the rose looks like.The image of the rose he creates is a product of her brain's capacity to imagine and create things rather than presenting a ready-made picture of the rose.

You can cut screen time

Whenever you child is bored and asks the regular question 'What next?', instead of switching on the TV for them, try telling them a story.
This way you can both benefit from a wonderful bonding time together.
Eventually, there's a greater chance you kid loses interest in Tv/gadgets and would like to listen to stories instead.

You can give value education to you kids

Remember moral stories from Pancha-tantra,Jataka tales and Vikram aur Bethaal or any other regional stories you might have listened to as kids?
They are all infused with basic morals that are building blocks of our children's character.
Giving value education through moral stories is the best way to get your child's attention to good values in life.

Spiritual time for Kids

If you are a person who is religiously inclined, then you may wish to tell  them stories from  scriptures  that could cultivate spiritual thoughts on your kids

You can have a special time together

If you are a working parent and are on a constant guilt that you are not spending enough time with your kid, then this is a fun and easy way to bond with you  child.A beautiful story at bedtime can make up for the entire day you have missed with your child

It can benefit you too

It's hard to sanctify a child's growing curiosity and you make have to come up with new stories or even cook up you own story.This will positively benefit your mood and may help you become more creative and relaxed.

Let's begin storytelling today!