{"id":4310,"date":"2022-08-05T21:11:37","date_gmt":"2022-08-05T21:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getepic.com\/learn\/?p=4310"},"modified":"2022-08-05T21:11:38","modified_gmt":"2022-08-05T21:11:38","slug":"7-habits-to-deepen-their-love-of-reading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getepic.com\/learn\/7-habits-to-deepen-their-love-of-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Habits to Deepen Their Love of Reading"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever have an \u201caha\u201d moment after staring at the same problem for too long? Or crack up over a punchline minutes after scratching your head over what it meant? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what kids feel when they go from being bored by a book to totally addicted. The moment they feel \u201cin on it\u201d is when they start to fall in love with a story. The question is, how do we get them there? Below are some practical tips on how to deepen your kid\u2019s understanding of their books to make them more engaged, curious readers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Skim first, commit later. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even a single page can be a lot to take in, so comprehending all of the details, context, events and descriptions could (and sometimes should) need more than one pass. Lift the pressure by encouraging your kid to casually scan it first. It\u2019ll give them a sense of the happenings, characters and tone before fully diving in, and it could sneakily hook them in the process. Tip: <\/strong>Free online summaries on sites like Wikipedia<\/a> are a great way to dip their toes into a story before deciding to invest the time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Look up unfamiliar terms & ideas. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Reading words and phrases you\u2019ve never heard can make anyone\u2019s eyes glaze over and take you out of the experience. So when your kid comes across new words and concepts, encourage them to look them up on their smartphone or tablet. They\u2019ll get so much more out of the story\u2014enjoyment included\u2014when they know what they\u2019re reading. And it\u2019ll broaden their vocabulary and understanding of the world around them in the process.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Write stuff down. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not only does note-taking help you retain what you\u2019re reading, it also encourages extra interaction with the content. Give your kid a notebook to use as a reading journal. Here, they can write down questions, revelations they may have, and concepts and ideas they find interesting. Just the act of holding a pen or pencil can make them a more active reader. Check out this post <\/a>for tips on how to help kids become better note takers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Put yourself in the characters’ shoes.<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Talk to your kid about what they\u2019re reading and ask thoughtful questions to get them thinking about the characters\u2019 motivations and emotions, such as: \u201cWhat if this happened to you?\u201d \u201cHow would you feel in this situation?\u201d or \u201cWhat would you do differently?\u201d Ask them to think of a time in their lives where they may have felt a certain way or made similar choices. Thought-provoking discussions like these keep the stories in their minds long after they\u2019ve put the book down. For more ideas on how to use this empathic approach to better connect your child with what they\u2019re reading, check out our post: Reading & Empathy: A Bridge<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Act it out. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Participating in the story breathes life into what they\u2019re reading. One way to do this is by taking turns reading out loud in silly or dramatic voices. Make it even more interesting by trying on different voices for each character and chatting about how using a different voice changes what you think of the character. Reader\u2019s theater is another great way to practice, and you can find a ton of scripts by grade level<\/a> here. You can have some fun with this type of roleplay off the page, too by acting out book scenes and sharing alternative versions of the plot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Movie-fy it. <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Instead of making books compete with movies and TV for your kid\u2019s attention, why not show them how to experience reading in the same way? Encourage them to visualize what\u2019s happening in their book and give it the cinematic treatment in their minds. You can help by asking them what they\u2019re reading, and following it up with \u201cif you could turn those events into a movie trailer, who would play the main characters? How would you bring it to life?\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Embrace fandom! <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If your kid is into a certain book or series, find opportunities to dive deeper through other media, such as activity books and videos. Some examples include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n