How do we raise readers in this digitally dominated era?
For today’s children, especially those born since the late 2000s, smartphones, tablets, and other gadgets have become a common sight everywhere. The struggle faced by the parents of these children to raise them as readers is real. It is quite important for parents to realise that they are not alone in this endeavour.
Finding a perfect formula for this is tricky, but there are many tried and tested methods shared online by parents, educators, and others. It would be overwhelming to list them all, hence it's best to start with one step at a time. Begin by starting them young, as young as when they're infants. If you think your child is way older, don't worry, it's never too late. It might take extra effort to establish a new habit, but it's definitely achievable.
Begin the journey today; set aside 15-20 minutes every day to read aloud to the young ones. Stick to this routine for at least 2 months, without succumbing to any distractions that either the parent or the child faces. At the end of two months, witness the magic unfolding - the child will start demanding more books. Once this milestone is reached, the journey ahead becomes much simpler.
Complement the journey further by establishing a common reading time for the child and the parent, visiting libraries or bookstores, offering small rewards like promising the child to watch the movie based on the book they have read (the child will likely be covinced of how much better the book was than the movie :) ), etc.
Reading is an acquired skill; any child can develop the habit with the right encouragement. Hence, it is also important to ensure that the journey is cherished and not made competitive and stressful for the child. It is okay if a teenager has begun the journey with "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" or "Tom Gates," while his/her friend is into Tolkien books; at least the journey has begun!