How to encourage your child to become a book lover

I've always been a book lover, so my dream of being a parent definitely included that my kids are as obsessed with books as I am. I love the real world experience that disappears as I get lost in a story and I want my kids to know that feeling too. But when my son Lucas reached the age of 8, about the same age as when I started my love affair with books, he did not show much interest.

I had read to him since birth and, even though he loved illustrated books and non-fiction, I could not convince him to delve into a book of honest chapters, even though I had promised him I would love that. I did not want to continue to harbad him because it would only make him more determined to stay on his heels. I needed to be creative.

I have devised a devious plan in several parts. I had a strong feeling that my son would love Harry Potter, so one night I huddled against him to read like I would do any other night – with JK Rowling The Wizard Stone by hand. I read the first chapters, and in the middle of chapter 4, right after Hagrid dropped the bomb on Harry that he was a wizard, I stopped.

"Ugh, I have a sore throat. I can not go further. "

" Oh, mom, just a little bit more? "

" I'm sorry, my voice, my voice just can not stand tonight anymore. "

" Please ? "

Ha! My plan worked. I told him that if he wanted to read a little bit by himself, I would let him stay up a bit after bedtime.

He nodded enthusiastically, completely convinced that he was escaping with something. And that was the night my son became obsessed with Harry Potter and fiction in general. I will never forget how, several months later, he entered my room well after he should have fallen asleep and thrown me in my arms, sobbing because of what special character who dies in book 5 (I will not ruin everything in case readers would not read or see Harry Potter.)

We are quite consistent with bedtime, but when It is read late at night, I tend to look away. Within reason, of course, but for me, a few minutes of sleep are worth it to my children if it means that they develop their love of reading.

And, to soften the case even further, every time my son finished the next book in the series, I rewarded him with a movie night for the family, with buttered popcorn and sweets.

I can not find anything to read at my fingertips, and I return it on the first night I fooled him to fall in love with JK Rowling.

So if you have a reader who does not think they like to read, I wholeheartedly recommend my sneaky attack. The key points to remember are:

• Make sure to choose a genre and a story that you know they'll love – ideally a movie accompanied by a movie.

• Start by reading for them (get the job done here!) Until you know that you have them totally, irrevocably hung. Large glazed eyes and a sagging jaw indicate that it's the perfect time to complain about having a sore throat and that you simply can not read one more sentence.

• Have an integrated reward. A bed later is easy if you have the habit of doing your reading at night like us. Some sleepy mornings deserve to be badured, your child will become a lifetime reader.

• Give him a reading lamp. It is a necessity if they share a room with a brother or sister and it is more exciting to read with the lights off.

• Make the movie night a real event. In the early days, it was a great motivation for my son to continue, especially for thicker books. I would not give in and let it look in advance, either. He had to finish the book first.

Watching the movie after reading is also fun because you can compare the book to the movie with your child, teaching him a critical mind that he can use at school and in school. life. And you must prove to your child that the book is always better than the film. A truth that all the nerves of the proud books know.