Back to School

All around the world kids and their adults are gearing up for back to school. The focus, at least here in the US, is on supplies, shoes, and backpacks! Commercials from every major retailer fill TV screens telling us that these things are important.  Not a single mention of books or literacy!

The purpose of education is learning – not fashion or accessories. Somehow, we’ve lost our way with that message. Resulting in school feeling like a chore to many rather than a privilege and a learning adventure. One that will help them carve out their place in the world. Society has sold us all on being “too cool for school” and that reverberates through many young minds.

So, how do you encourage your child to be excited to learn and fascinated with reading as you’re sending them back for another school year?

When my daughter was little her books were her most prized possession and our nightly reading time her favorite activity. If she ever was in a time out, which thankfully wasn’t often, her books were the thing I removed – not a toy or a gadget – just her books. Worked every time 😆

Here are some ideas about how to get and keep your little one reading and learning for life:

-           Be a role model – let them know you are always learning too – keep reading and stay curious

-           If gadgets are their thing let them read on one not just play games or try audio books if that works best for your child.

-           Let them choose the topic – whatever interests them is cool – monster trucks or Disney princesses? Who cares if they are reading.

-           Make the time to read together both aloud from a shared book, and while each of you is immersed in book of your own.

-           Storytelling is a powerful tool – share what your favorite book was growing up, tell them about your fun adventures in school, college/university (I started sharing about my undergraduate days as early as kindergarten) – make it relatable and they will want those experiences too.