How to bring back books. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even the most screen-focused kids are still seeking out stories, whether from their favourite films or even their online games. But watching the tales unfold is not the same as the process of reading, which carries real world benefits to kids\u2019 wellbeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Research has consistently tied reading activity and proficiency to academic success, increased empathy and a deeper understanding of the world \u2013 all things most parents want for their kids.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBut if screens have taken over<\/a> your kids\u2019 lives, parents can still steer them back to books, says Maria Russo, former children\u2019s book editor at the New York Times and co-author of How to Raise a Reader<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you want your kids to become readers, you have to help them find books they love,\u201d she says. \u201cThat means that your work is not so much nagging them to read or taking away their devices \u2013 your work is helping them discover the kinds of books that excite them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you find yourself asking: \u201cHow do I reduce my child\u2019s screen time?\u201d, you might discover the answer in the kids\u2019 section of your local library, or between the pages of the forgotten books on their shelves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some top tips to help refocus your kids on reading\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSome kids are information seekers,\u201d Russo says. \u201cThey\u2019re not necessarily reading for the story but to answer their questions.\u201d For these children, she suggests atlases or almanacs, like Guinness World Records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Match books to kids\u2019 obsessions \u2013 whether it\u2019s animals, history or Minecraft \u2013 and kids are hooked. \u201cThose are the kids who cannot wait to read,\u201d Russo says. \u201cThey crave those books.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Got an animal lover, history buff or future scientist in your family? Then inspire their passion and reignite their love for reading with a subscription to National Geographic Kids magazine.<\/a> Perfect for kids aged 7-12, each issue contains fascinating features about science, nature and history, plus educational games, puzzles and more, to keep your kids reading!<\/p>\n\n\n Got a younger reader? Kids aged 3 \u2013 6 will love National Geographic Little Kids<\/em><\/a>. Full of cute creatures and fun activities, this magazine is perfect for kickstarting little ones\u2019 love of reading. Use these top tips to get the most out of every issue!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Digital temptations can be hard for even adults to resist, says Christine Elgersma, senior editor of learning resources at Common Sense Media. Making some rules can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSetting up some screen-free times <\/a>and zones in your house encourages kids to find something else to do,\u201d she says. Examples might be before bedtime or on a weekend afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then make reading easy: \u201cHave some books you think might appeal lying around, to tempt kids who are looking for something to do,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For kids who live in homogenous communities, reading books by authors who can offer a realistic glimpse into a different world \u2013 whether racial, regional or socio-economic \u2013 can help kids develop empathy and understanding. \u201cThis is the world they\u2019re inheriting,\u201d Russo says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Browse in bookstores or make regular trips to the library to help build a habit of seeking out new books, Russo says. And then when they grow up, they\u2019ll pop into bookstores, too. \u201cThey find themselves unconsciously emulating how their parents live,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n Reading for pleasure in front of your kids helps, too, says Theresa Yang, a school librarian and mother of four. \u201cWe did a survey asking kids how many of their parents read for pleasure. They all had an answer,\u201d she says. \u201cKids are very observant of their parents\u2019 reading habits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She says she noticed a correlation between the kids who said their parents read and the students who are strong readers, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Graphic novels, poetry, audiobooks and novels in verse can be easier ways for kids to jump into books if they\u2019re having trouble getting motivated. \u201cYou\u2019re not confronted with a wall of text,\u201d says Gene Yang, Theresa\u2019s husband and author of several graphic novels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t shy away from the tough stuff, either. As kids get older, some parents might worry that the topics in young adult books are too mature. But Russo says if kids are interested, it\u2019s not likely to do them any harm. \u201cWouldn\u2019t you rather have your kids learn about this stuff through a book instead of the internet?\u201d she asks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, tough topics can help contextualise what\u2019s happening in their worlds. \u201cYou might not think they\u2019re ready to read about drug addiction or police brutality,\u201d Russo says. \u201cBut if that\u2019s what their friends are talking about, they want to be in the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Diving deep into fan communities by creating and publishing fan art or dressing up like favourite characters can help keep kids excited about books, says Gene Yang, who\u2019s currently writing a Batman \/ Superman graphic novel for DC comics.<\/p>\n\n\n Writing a fan fiction in online platforms can be a fun way to mix reading and writing, too. \u201cI think that fan fiction and cosplay gives people in general \u2013 and kids in particular \u2013 a way of participating in what they\u2019re reading,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading doesn\u2019t have to be a solitary experience, Elgersma says. \u201cReading a book together \u2013 out loud or book-club-style \u2013 can add a social, connective element,\u201d she says. Parents can do that along with kids, and they can help organise sessions with friends, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Yang\u2019s recent online literacy night, teachers led kids in a book scavenger hunt. They asked them to find different books \u2013 a favourite book, a specific genre, a book of a certain colour \u2013 and show them on screen. \u201cThat activity built a sense of community, even virtually,\u201d Gene says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your kid loves non-fiction, then try tackling family-friendly news stories together. You can chat about the importance of avoiding ‘fake news’<\/a> and encourage them to have their own opinions. And you might not have to look far to find suitable stories – for positive news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to the free National Geographic Kids newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gene Yang recently showed his kids an essay a young cousin had written for school about Yang\u2019s grandparents. \u201cThey were so enthralled,\u201d he says, adding that they especially loved reading about their family history through the perspective of another family member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yang suggests that parents ask grandparents or siblings for writing stashed in attics or garages. \u201cEvery family has a body of literature,\u201d he says. Here are some more ways you can get kids excited about family history.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Research is mixed on the benefits of paper versus e-books, but Elgersma says if e-books (or even audio books) are what get your kids excited to read, then fine. Just steer away from reading apps with lots of interactive features, which may reduce retention of information<\/a>, she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For those parents whose children were once readers but now spend their free time plugged into an X-box, don\u2019t fret, Russo says. As they get closer to adolescence, kids might just be taking a break and trying to identify their own identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe fact is that books and the written word are a really great way to tell stories and deliver information,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd when people are looking for that, they\u2019ll gravitate back to books.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if reading just isn\u2019t happening right now, don\u2019t be too hard on them (or yourself). But don\u2019t give up \u2013 books are brilliant, and you\u2019ve lots of tools to help your kids see that, too!<\/p>\n\n\n\nConsider your kid’s personality when helping them find books.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tap into their interests. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nLimit devices and make books accessible. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fill in gaps. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Create readerly habits. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nExplore genres. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Encourage fandoms. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCreate community and connection. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read family stories.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Give in to digital – a little. <\/h2>\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDon’t worry.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do you avoid too much screen time with your family? Let us know and share your tips in the comments below!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Written by Sierra Filucci. Image credits: Magazine pages \u00a9 National Geographic Kids; all other images \u00a9 Adobe Stock.<\/strong><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"