Encourage your child to read everywhere and anywhere.

The very best way to encourage independent reading is to lead by example and let your child see you read on a frequent basis.  They will then see reading as a normal part of everyday life, and all children like to emulate their parents.

Take your child to the library and let them choose any book.  Take them to the bookshop (we have a magnificent bookshop in Urmston) or to a charity shop and help them choose a book to buy.  Keep books in the car or in your bag so that your child can read when travelling.

Have a family reading time: turn off all the screens (TV, laptop, tablets, ‘phones etc.) in your house and sit together, each reading their own book.  Do this weekly, if possible: start on ten minutes and build up to thirty.  At the end of family reading time, you can tell each other about the books you have been reading – a familial book club, if you like.

Ensure that any reading obstacle your child faces is dealt with effectively at an early stage (your first port of call is your child’s teacher; if you need outside help – *advertising alert* – call me, Christine McLaughlin, on 0161 748 3912, to book a free assessment at our Urmston tuition centre).  Enjoy the adventure: there is so much to explore and discover in the world of books.

You can read more about the huge benefits of independent reading in our previous blog post.