FLVS Shares 30 Tips to Encourage Reading During "Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!"

• Model good reading habits by reading to or alongside children.
• Read the description on a movie before starting it – get a sneak peek into the storyline of the movie, make predictions and ask questions based on the description.
• Encourage reading, writing and discussions among family members.
• Encourage children to read new and challenging books, articles and magazines.
• Be positive when talking about children’s reading ability and skills.
• Expose children to different kinds of books such as novels, biographies and informational content.
• Create a “home library” for your family to access.
• Create a “reading nook” at home where children can read.
• Encourage children to write books about their day.
• Limit TV viewing by controlling the amount of time spent watching television.
• Visit the local public library and help children get library cards of their own.

Include Reading in Daily Routines: 

• Establish a daily reading routine.
• Read the back of the cereal box at breakfast.
• Select a “word of the day” to add to children’s growing vocabulary.
• Before a family dinner, create place settings with first and last names.
• Make dessert time reading time. Read to your children while they enjoy their evening snack.
• Set aside additional reading time or add extra bedtime story time as a reward for good behavior.

Make Reading Even More Fun with Unexpected Games:

• Play word games.
• Play rhyming games during a car trip or at home.
• Play a find-the-street-sign game in the car and find words that start with various letters of the alphabet.
• Write out words with opposite meanings on separate pieces of paper and match pairs together.
• Play the “I Spy” game, looking for uppercase and lowercase letters.
• Make up a story by having each family member add a sentence to a story starter; expand on the individual character traits, the setting of the story and exciting events and adventures.

• Take books in the car to read, rather than watching a DVD.
• Comment on new words on the radio or TV.
• Bake something. When following a recipe, children are not only practicing their reading skills, they are learning how to follow directions and work toward a goal.
• Turn on subtitles when watching a movie. Even before reading age, children will learn that what the characters are saying is associated with text. As they get older, they will be able to match words with text.
• Help label artwork with children’s names and ages.
• While playing outside, encourage children to create their names out of sticks, stones and other materials.