The thing that struck me most about my young reader was the ” passion ” she has for books and reading. This is something many parents want for their children but don’t know how to get.
We’ve all heard the adage that readers are not born, but are made. But how to do it is the cry of interested parents and others working with children at home or in school.
How can I get my child to read? Help, my kids stopped reading! What’s the magic that gets kids to read? How can I get my children to stop reading ” junk? “
First of all stay calm. Often kids put aside reading for other more important things for them at the time. It may be sports, girls, boys, music or just plain daydreaming.
As far as ” junk ” is concerned, author Peter Dickinson aptly states: ” … a diet of plums is bad for you and any rational reading system needs to include a considerable amount of pap or roughage – call it what you will. I know very few adults who do not have some secret cultural vice, and they are all the better for it. I am not advocating that children should be encouraged to read rubbish. None of the ones I know need much encouragement. All I am asking is that they should not be discouraged from reading it. “
Dickinson goes on to say naturally that no child’s diet should be all junk and they will need help in choosing good books.
There are guide books for adults wanting to help their child along the road to the joy of reading as a lifetime hobby.
Among many helpful guides is Michele Landsberg’s Guide to Children Books; (Penguin, $12.95), Children’s Literature from A to Z: A Guide for Parents and Teachers, by Jon C. Stott; (McGraw-Hill), $12.95 paper) and The Good Book Guide to Children’s Books; (Penguin, $7.95).
Landsberg’s suggested books are based on her personal experiences as a parent and reader. Stott’s, on the other hand, relate to his success with books as a teacher of children’s literature and of teachers in the elementary school.
Finally, the British Good Book Guide to Children’s Books is the work of renowned librarian, Elaine Moss and talented co-workers.
Getting back to ” junk ” or ” rubbish. ” Try to plant your children firmly on the road to good reading. Then they will be able to dip into junk without it becoming an addiction. They probably will taste it and quickly return to savor the richness of their natural diet of good reading.
