14 February is International Book Giving Day. Books are great gifts for friends, family and loved ones. Importantly, giving books to children encourages them to read often and for fun, which is the best way to develop reading and writing skills that will be useful to them for life. But books can also be some of the most difficult gifts to give, requiring a strong understanding of the reader’s tastes and interests. Here are some tips for choosing books that will encourage your children to read and learn.
Listen to their Interests
The best way to become good at reading is to read a lot. The good news is it doesn’t matter so much what you read as much as how you enjoy it. For children, this means the best way to encourage good reading skills is to help them to find books that interest them.
Talk to your child about what kind of books they would like to read. Some kids will have a very clear idea of the books they enjoy: they may like a specific genre (for example, fantasy or mystery) or a type of setting or main character, such as books that are set at school or with children like them. Don’t dismiss their interests as too silly: reading Captain Underpants now can help you read Shakespeare later on in life.
If your child isn’t sure what kind of books they like, think about their other interests. There are books on many different subjects: books about sports players, books about fairies, books about space. Children might like stories that are similar to games they play, or non-fiction books about niche topics that interest them. Just one book on a favourite topic can be key to unlocking an interest in reading.
Think about your Interests
It can be tempting to give books that you like or that you enjoyed when you were a child. If done carefully, this can be a great way to share your interests and inspire others the way you were inspired. However, to avoid disappointment, it’s important to think about how your child may react to your favourite book. They may find the writing style or subjects covered to be old-fashioned or out-of-date, or they may simply be uninterested in the same things as they were when you were young.
This doesn’t mean that you can’t share your interests with your child. Think about what you like about your favourite books or what interested you as a child. It might be the type of adventure, the characters involved, or the author’s writing style. Can these features be found in other books that might interest your child more? Even if your child clings to a different book, you can still share your interests with them.
Consider the Type of Book
A good book isn’t always about the subject matter. Sometimes readers choose books for how they’re written. Young readers may choose books based on what is comfortable for them and their reading style. Consider what level of reading your child is at, either at home or at school, and how comfortable they are reading at that level. You can gift books at that level or even slightly above. More advanced books may encourage your child to try reading at a higher level, or they may have to wait until they are older.
Books come in many shapes and sizes and different readers like to read in different ways. Some children may read illustrated books better, either picture books or graphic novels. These books can be just as interesting and informative as books that are all text. Other children may gravitate towards audiobooks, a choice which reflects a different, but equally important, type of learning. And books can be both paper copies or digital, on special devices like Kindle or a phone or tablet.
Active Books for Active Kids
A stereotypical reader can sit in a chair for hours consuming a book. But active children can be good readers too. They might be interested in books about their hobbies and activities, especially to-do books with tips and advice. Or they might enjoy books that have an active component, such as choose your own adventure books, in which you decide what you think the characters should do next.
You can help your child enjoy books by turning reading into an activity. Encourage them to draw or write their thoughts in their books (it’s not vandalism if it’s your book!) or to create fan art and stories. If you can, visit places related to their favourite books and subjects, such as a castle or an aquarium. Connecting reading to activities outside of books is a great way to bring learning into all areas of life.
Use the Library
Giving books is great, but if you aren’t sure what you want to buy, the library is a great place to read for free. You can bring your child to the library to get a sense of what books they enjoy and how they like to read. You can borrow books that your child may or may not like and see what they think. Or you can ask a librarian what they recommend–they are experts at matching books to children! Whether or not you are giving your child a book, frequent visits to your nearest public library are an excellent way to instil a love of reading in your child.
No matter what your child’s interests and skills are, encouraging a love of reading is a key way to help them learn in school and life. Giving well-chosen books can start your child’s reading habit or nurture it as they get older. But encouraging a love of reading continues long after the gift of a book. Remember to talk to your child about their interests and passions, and to foster their love of reading as they grow older.
