13 tips for reading to your child #ad

It doesn’t matter whether it’s school time, holidays or weekends, it’s always a good time to hit the books with your children — specifically, reading to and with them. We all know that reading to our children is important but fitting it in can be difficult.

McDonald’s has commissioned research that shows more than a third of parents want to spend more time reading with their children. The research, done in conjunction with its 5^th Happy Readers campaign which distributes books to children, shows that 58% of parents believe reading is a special time for bonding. Through the Happy Readers promotion, McDonald’s has distributed more than 61 million books to families so far. 

McDonald’s is committed to helping families enjoy reading together. The National Literacy Trust recommends reading to your child every day, but according to McDonald’s research, less than a third of parents read stories to their child every day. This year, in a tie-up with beloved British author Roald Dahl, they’ll be providing access to books with Happy Meals. There’s never a better time to get reading with your child!

Here are 13 tips that make reading to your children, whatever their age, easier than ever.

1. Make it a regular habit

When children get used to reading and enjoying books, they will more naturally reach for them for learning and pleasure throughout their life.

2. Read to your children as early an age as possible

Board books are a great way to start off with babies & toddlers so they can handle them, play with them and – let’s be honest – slobber on them. But any book is good for enjoying storytime together.

3. Set aside the devices

Turn off the tablet and the computer, switch off the mobile phone. This sends that message that this is an activity worth focusing on. And that goes for your own mobile – no keeping an ear out for pings from your voicemail during Winnie the Pooh.

4. Put some effort into it

Yes, funny voices are good, but even if you don’t do that, read with feeling and drama, letting your voice rise and fall rather than staying monotone. Release your inner thespian and you’ll find an avid audience.

5. Introduce props or call-and-response for a bit of fun

Reading a story with a mustache-twirling villain? Every time he enters, your child could say, “Boo!” Enjoying a story set in nature? Whenever there’s a mention of birds or the ocean, everyone can chirp-chirp or make a whooshing wave sound.

6. Encourage chatting while reading

Explain words that your child is hearing for the first time, encourage them to pipe up when they don’t understand something, comment on the action (“Oooh what do you think will happen next?”). Sometimes it’s not just about the book.

7. Let your child choose their own books

Yes, you must prepare yourself to read the same one over and over. They’ll eventually move on and you’ll look back at that careworn copy with nostalgia. But also…

8. Try to get them to pick something you like too

As they get older you can discuss and negotiate what to delve into.

9. Let your child read to you

Now they get to set the pace and be the one in charge.

10. Get everyone involved

Grandparents, siblings, godparents – they can all reinforce the message that reading is fun while enjoying cracking great yarns. Family far away? Let technology help and do it by Facetime or Skype.

11. Start reading and keep reading

There’s no upper age limit to enjoying a good book. Even teens love being read to.

12. Avoid that “to-do list” feeling

Use story time as family time instead of thinking of it as something else on your to-do list. When you’re exhausted at the end of a long day, sometimes you just yearn to stop parenting and switch off. By finding ways to make reading enjoyable for yourself, it gets better for everyone. Maybe you do it earlier than bedtime when you have a bit more energy, or you create a ritual by changing out of work clothes, making a cup of tea and settling down together on the sofa. There’s no one way to do it. Find a way to make it work for your energy levels and schedule.

13. Keep the reading fresh

These days you can find books and stories in a variety places. Join the library, take advantage of book exchanges, enjoy audio books together and pick up a copy of a Roald Dahl in a McDonald’s Happy Meal.

Tell us about your reading routine with your children!

 

McDonald’s Happy Readers will feature a Roald Dahl book in every Happy Meal™, helping increase book ownership amongst children and encourage both children and parents to find the joy in reading. Damian Hinds, Education Secretary said: “I am delighted to see that McDonald’s is working in partnership with the National Literacy Trust to provide free books to young children to improve their literacy skills. Schemes like this encourage parents and carers to read to their children which will help them with those vital early language and literacy skills.”

(This is a sponsored post.)