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Reading
is skill that parents need to
encourage their child to master. A
person who is literate, and can read
well is increasingly likely to
graduate from college, get a high
paying job, experience the joys of
learning new things, and have an
outlet for stress reduction.
It may
not be easy to turn your teen on to
reading a book, however, it is not
impossible. Here are a few tips to
help turn your teen into an avid
reader:
-
Set
an example – let your child see
you reading for pleasure.
-
Provide a variety of reading
materials – leave books,
newspapers and magazines around
for your teenager to take a look
at.
-
Allow your teen an opportunity
to choose his or her own book –
go separate ways in a book store
and let your teen make his or
her own selection.
-
Read some books written for
teens – this will give you some
valuable insight as to the
pressures and concerns of
teenagers opening the door for
further conversation
-
Acknowledge your teen’s mature
interests – suggest some adult
reading that he or she can
handle.
-
Build on your teen’s interests –
look for books that may feature
their favorite hobbies, sports,
television shows or singers.
Buy a subscription to a special
interest magazine.
Once
your teen is ready to read, here are
some suggestions for choosing good
books for your tween/teen:
-
Authority: Preteens and
teens like to question
authority. Recommend classic
and modern novels that deal with
issues such as those in which
the needs of a community are
more important than the
individuals within.
-
Local, National, and
International Events: Your
teen may become more interested
in current events – provide
editorials and articles from
news magazines and the newspaper
that might be of interest to him
or her.
-
Independence: Your teen is
likely striving for
independence, however (secretly)
may still want to be connected
to family. Suggest books that
you can read as well that will
allow you to share laughter,
mystery, an action-packed
adventure or a science fiction
journey.
-
Abstract Thinking: Teens
are beginning to learn how to
think abstractly while
understanding the reasons behind
views that may differ from their
own. Encourage the reading of
books that will challenge them
to think “outside the box” and
provide a view of the world
beyond their normal daily
experiences.
-
Opportunities and Experiences:
Teens are starting to determine
what they will ultimately do
with their lives, such as
college, careers and starting a
family of their own. Propose
books that introduce a wide
range of opportunities and
experiences for him or her to
really begin to learn about the
journey of life.
No one
book or magazine will be right for
every child. Get in tune with what
may be of interest to your teen and
encourage reading! |
