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Helping your child choose the right books

23 Oct 2020

Are you a reader? Do you find it difficult to choose the right book for your child? Indeed, the skill of choosing a suitable book requires experience. Just as Goldilocks did not find the perfect chair until she tried all the other chairs, it takes some trial and error to find the right book for you. But how does a child develop such experience before they can read independently? This is a job for the adults around them.

Children cannot always rely on adults to choose books for them. Encouraging them to choose books on their own can help to develop not only an interest in reading, but also their ability to make decisions independently.

 

When children begin to show their desire to choose books themselves, we can get them involved in it. Even if they are literally judging a book by its cover, this represents an important step in their development. Children who have not yet learned how to read may simply respond to the colours or illustrations on the cover. This will nevertheless compel them to open the book and try to find clues and guess plots. These behaviours show that they are able to reach an age-appropriate reading level.

   

When pupils take lessons in the library, our teachers have the opportunity to introduce them to a variety of books that serve our purposes. This provides a preliminary reference point in how to choose a book. Parents, however, are encouraged to take an active role in encouraging reading. Below are some useful tips on how you can help your child choose what to read outside the classroom.

1.Take your child to bookstores or libraries regularly This will expose them to a wider variety of subjects and genres. Classify books in your home according to their type or difficulty. Be sure to talk with your child about the books they read. 2.Allow your child to choose their own books and acknowledge their choices Read these books with them. Discuss with them how the book made them feel or what it made them think. Young children cannot identify the difficulty of a book until they read it. If they choose a book that is beyond their reading level, they may lose patience before completing the book. In such cases, it often helps to have them stop reading and simply discuss what they have read. This will help them to understand the importance of choosing a book that is more suitable to their reading level and encourage them to make better choices in the future. 3.Know what kind of subjects and stories appeal to your child Ask them to explain their reading choices to you. Is it because they like pictures on the cover? Have heard the story before? This will clue you into their reading habits and preferences. 4.Read book series Familiar characters in several books are conducive to developing an interest in reading. This helps establish reading habits and builds self-confidence as well. 5.Do not judge a book by its cover Children are likely not to read new types of books as they develop their reading habits. Motivate them to browse random books and encourage them to read several pages before they decide whether to read the entire book. The book may captivate them after only a few pages.

 

Learning how to choose a book is a skill almost as important as reading itself. Mastering it builds confidence and will make a lifelong reader out of your child. But, it is a gradual process. In order to ensure success, children need the adults around them to be present, patient and supportive.