Instilling an affinity for reading in your children does not need to be complicated. The joy of reading should be met with enthusiasm as an alternative for the common pleasures kids find comfort in. While staring at a tablet is probably the go-to distraction for kids, reading can be more rewarding and beneficial for a child’s development and their sense of imagination. 

If you want to see your kids reading books on a more regular basis, give these tips a try. 

Keep the topics interesting 

Forcing topics you find interesting onto your children is not the most effective way to ignite passion for literature. The best way to make reading fun for your child is to give them some agency in what they read. We recommend visiting your local library and letting your kid loose in the children’s section. 

The moment you place an ounce of control over what they can and cannot read, you will quickly diminish any chance of getting your child interested in books. With that said, if they do come to you for help in what to read, you can steer them in a direction they might favour. Try thinking about your child’s interests, and help them find books that relate to them. 

Read aloud 

Kids absolutely love it when you read aloud. Have fun with this by performing the story with different voices. When they get comfortable with reading themselves, try including them in some bits of dialogue. Reading aloud also helps your kids understand how to pronounce words and makes them feel more engaged with the story.

Make a special spot for reading 

Every avid reader needs a comfortable reading nook. Create a special spot for your kids to read in peace, so they will feel more inclined to open a book. Make it super cozy with blankets, pillows, pretty lights, and even a tent. You can also set the ambiance with some reading music, usually calm instrumental music. 

Have a read-in 

Instead of movie night, why not host a read-in for your family to enjoy? Have your child choose the book, and everyone can take turns to read aloud. Afterwards, you can discuss the story. Think of it as a sort of book club, and you can even invite your child’s friends over and make the read-in part of a sleepover activity.

Reward wisely – avoid screen time as rewards

The great thing about reading is all the worlds that become open to your child. They are exposed to a wealth of knowledge, which encourages them to learn more. Instead of rewarding them with more screen time, think of better ways to expand their interest in learning new things.

If your child has been reading about dinosaurs, why not take a trip to your local museum? Or have they been reading about animals? Then a trip to a zoo should be in order. 

The point is to nurture that innate desire to learn about the world around them. Books are a great starting point; it is up to you as the parent to continue exposing your child to enriching learning experiences. 

Visit Jumbaloo Playgrounds Today

Another great reward would be to get them more active! Life is all about balance, and sometimes kids want to let loose and have fun. Our fun playground will bring more joy to your child than any tablet ever could. The freedom to run around and play with other kids is a sound way to reward your child for hitting the books. 

Call us today at 905-785-3990 or send us a message via our contact page.

As we welcome a new year, we also welcome a fresh start. The new year is when people often start with promises of new habits and lifestyle changes. We promise to be the best versions of who we are and plan to commit to these promises. Whether it’s eating healthier, exercising more, or saying yes or no more often, new year’s resolutions come in many forms. As you consider these changes, the kids in your life might be curious and want to commit to their own new year’s resolutions. A good new year’s resolution doesn’t have to be rigid and no fun. Find out how experts weigh in on ways to help kids make new year’s resolutions they can feel good about. 

Don’t Dictate Resolutions

When brainstorming new year’s resolution ideas with kids, don’t forget to keep it fun and exciting; this is a great bonding experience where you have the opportunity to learn more about your children and their personal aspirations for themselves. It’s essential that you listen to your child and not try to control or dictate their resolutions. Allow them the independence and responsibility of handling their own resolution. If they ask for your help or guidance, it’s perfectly acceptable to offer them advice and assurance or suggest a resolution you think is manageable and fun.

Take Time Pursuing Big Resolutions

New habits don’t happen overnight. Experts believe that a habit usually takes six weeks or longer to become sustainable. Help your child ease into big resolutions by breaking them down into manageable steps. If your child wants to read more, encourage them by suggesting they read ten minutes a night the first week and slowly increase their reading time each week. Taking time to achieve long-term goals is essential for success, and your child will notice their progress and feel like they’re sticking it through.

Follow Up About Resolutions 

It’s essential that you show interest and support with how your kids are progressing with their new year’s resolutions. Check in now and then and see how it’s going. It would be best if you didn’t nag them, instead be there as a helping hand or a listening ear. Chances are, if they’re feeling like they’re not keeping up with their resolution, they’ll confide in you. If your child feels supported and praised by you, they’ll be excited about following through with their new habits.

Make Resolutions Together as a Family

 Children often take pride and feel good doing things together as a family. Coming up with a family resolution together is the perfect time to let your children guide the decisions while building confidence simultaneously. As a family, you can commit to creating fun habits together. Habits like going on more walks as a family, donating to charities together, or promising to cook one meal together a week. There are endless ideas, and listening to children talk about new year’s resolutions can help guide you in the right direction as a family.

Make Having More Fun a New Year’s Resolution

At Jumbaloo Playgrounds, we believe that one of the top qualities of a good new year’s resolution is to have fun while achieving it. We want to help you keep to those resolutions by providing you and your children with tons of fun and physical activity. Reward your children for a job well done and yourselves as well. Give us a call today at 905-785-3990, or head on over and fill out our online contact form.

We look forward to seeing you and your family soon!