Read Every Day!

Probably the single most important skill you can teach your child is reading.  Children who read everyday will do better in school, score higher on the SATs, and do better in high school and college.  Children who grow up enjoying reading have greater opportunities in life.  The trick is read every day! Children should be read to from birth (some say before birth) until they can read on their own well. Then read with them.   

Unfortunately, there are too many things competing for kid's attention.  Movies, video games, television and instant messaging take away time from reading. The volume of outside activities can also reduce time for reading.  And there are children who live in families where there are no books or parents who do not like to read.   

Everyone knows that to be good at anything in life you have to do it repeatedly, over and over until it becomes a habit.  Athletes practice everyday and the real good athletes enjoy what they do and get even better.  The same thing is true with reading.  Parents need to set aside time every day, the same time everyday for reading.  The best time is before bedtime.  Set aside a half hour or hour every night before bed time to read.  Shut off the television, put away the game controllers, turn off the cellphone, get ready for bed and have you and your child read.  Parents should read aloud to their children for as long as you can.  And after your child reads on their own, parents need to read with their children.  They need to see you read, it shows children that reading is important.  

Find books they like to read.  Don't force them to read something they hate.  Reading should be fun (remember the great athletes enjoy what they are doing - your child will become a great reader if they love what they are reading).  Limit TV and Video game time to allow more time for reading.  Reading is the most important thing you can do as a family that will help your child succeed in life - so make it a fun priority in your every day life.