Parents always want to improve their kids’ school readiness so they can succeed from the moment they set foot in a classroom. One way to do so is to help your little ones get excited about reading. Below, Pumpkin Preschool, in Fairfield, CT, shares three ways you can help your kids learn to love reading, so they have a head start before school begins.

Encourage Your Child to Invest in Reading With These 3 Tips

1. Get Involved Together

Reading is about more than running your eyes over the pages — especially for kids. It’s important to contextually get involved in what you’re reading as a family. That may mean doing voices for the characters to make them memorable or asking questions every time you finish a chapter. Make sure your little ones are comprehending what they read by digging into the content. Ask about what the character does outside of what’s going on in the story, for example, or pretend you could spend time with the character and ask what activities your child would do with them. 

2. Find Books They’re Interested In

You’re more likely to read a book or an article if it features a topic you are interested in. The same is true of your kids, so keep this in mind when selecting books for them to read. If your daughter loves baseball, give her stories about famous players or remarkable little league teams. If your son is into painting, read tales about artists and art. Your kids will be excited to read every day when they’re working their way through books they love.

3. Create Reading Goals

You can teach your little ones about goal setting and achievement through reading. This is an excellent way to improve their school readiness as they will work toward goals when they begin school. Set marks like “read one chapter” with appropriate rewards like a lollipop, a favorite dinner, or a trip to the beach. Achieving these goals will instill a sense of self-confidence and likely strengthen your kids’ motivation to keep reading.

Families can improve their kids’ school readiness by teaching their little ones to fall in love with reading while they are young. Get involved with every story, set goals and work toward reaching them, and find books your children are interested in so they’ll look forward to reading. While they aren’t under your supervision, you must send your kids to childcare or preschools that value improving school readiness. The talented staff at Pumpkin Preschool understand this desire and can help your kids further their love of reading. To learn about enrollment, call (203) 255-7505. Visit the website for information on their curriculum and programs for infants, toddlers, prekindergarten, and school-aged kids.