Keep Kids Reading |
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Developing Good HabitsI received an email this week from a father of a 16-year old who does not like to read. Sir, how well I know what you are talking about! I also have a 16-year-old son who would prefer not to read. Computer games are the big thing for him. Teenagers today have so many other ways to entertain themselves that reading seems a drag. Too much work, perhaps, since watching TV or playing electronic games comes so much more easily. That's where our job comes in. As parents, we have the opportunity to instill good habits in our children. Yes, even at age 16. I looked at my son the other day and realized how little time I have left before he leaves my home. And I realize that the best way I can influence his life after he leaves is by establishing good habits now, while he is still within my influence in my home. Summer, also, is an excellent time to establish habits, since schoolwork does not take precedence. Allow me to share with you what I'm doing with my son, and hopefully you'll find something useful to your own situation. Since my son enjoys the lighter summer schedule which allows him to sleep in, I allow him to do so. But by 9 a.m., he must report to me for certain tasks. (In my household, it is expected that children have certain chores to do. Parents work, cook, and do all sorts of tasks for the family. And children, being part of the family, are expected to be part of that contributing workforce. In our household, with both parents working, we actually could not keep up with things without the children's contribution.) So at 9 a.m., the children report to me for their tasks. I've included on that list things which I hope to become habit in their lives. Good hygiene, for one. Laundering their own clothes. Some light housekeeping. And yes -- reading an approved book for 30 minutes each day. I've also included on the list some things which he wants to accomplish this summer, such as taking him out to practice driving. I figure that it goes both ways. He can do some things I ask him to do. I can do some things he needs a parent for. Together, we'll help him accomplish this task of growing up. We taught them the good habits of washing hands and brushing teeth
when they were little! I encourage you to continue teaching good habits
as long as you have opportunity. And then, when they leave our homes,
they will hopefully continue washing their hands and brushing their
teeth and reading regularly, because these things have become part of
their lives. -- Ginia DibleAt Custom Books Online, we offer personalized adventure novels that seek to build positive character traits in your reader: Compassion, Perseverance, Determination, Courage. For reading Grades 2-5. Check us out! ----------------------------------------------> about Ginia Dible |
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Keeping Kids Reading This SummerBy now the library's reading program is in full swing. My teens regularly mark off every half hour of reading they do, knowing that it gets them just that much closer to placing their name in the drawing for a Nintendo something. The children's area is offering a bicycle -- one drawing for girls and one for boys. Even the adults can win something -- a canvas bag to carry all those books home. As good as the library is to provide excitement and incentives every year, it still takes the parent to make sure that the day by day reading opportunity happens. Every year I set out my expectations for reading in my household. They aren't always the same, according to the ages and interests of my readers. Perhaps you can relate to some of these efforts: One year computer games were the big interest. That year I required one hour of reading for each hour of computer gaming. I set up a checklist for each child on the refrigerator. The left side of the page indicated check boxes for reading. The right side of the page was for computer or TV time. Each child was to mark whenever he or she read or used the electronic entertainment. And they knew that the right side was not to get longer than the left side! It worked very well that year. Last year I instituted reading time at a specific time of the day. Upon rising, the children were expected to make their bed, brush their teeth, etc. And to that list of daily routine was added a half hour of reading before going on with the rest of the day. It worked beautifully. It truly made reading such a habit that after three weeks I did not always need to check up on them. Reading happened. This year, since my children are older and some of them prefer to sleep in later, I've made reading a required time just after lunch. We are often busy in the morning on other activities, and the lull after lunch while dishes are put away has become an excellent time for reading. Sometimes the half hour stretches well into the afternoon, once the reader gets into the story. Finally, I'd like to mention the tack that a friend of mine is using. One of her son's favorite things is dessert. So she's decided to use that as a motivational tool. Once he completes his 20 minutes of assigned reading (in the morning), he has earned his dessert for after lunch. Do you have a favorite way to make reading happen during the summer? I'd love to hear your tips, so that I might share them with others. In the meantime, here's happy reading to you and yours! |
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About Keep Kids ReadingThese motivational tips are copyrighted by Ginia Dible. However, you are welcome to copy and distribute these tips in whole, with reference to www.keepkidsreading.com. Feel free to link to this page. Questions? Email me. |
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