Auryn Inc

When my daughter was in elementary school, I volunteered at the school book fair. About two minutes into my shift, an irate father marched up and demanded to know why we were selling the book “Captain Underpants“? He said his son purchased it the day before and would not put the potty humor book down. This father felt the story featuring the underwear sporting hero, was teaching students bathroom humor and to disrespect their principal. When I told him the principal in the book actually hated children and our principal didn’t, he was not amused.  As I looked around the gym I saw a cluster of 4th grade boys in an impromptu book club hysterically laughing and the pages. I thought, how could this be a bad thing. Kids finding a topic that thrills them, having a pleasant experience with a book in their hand oppose to feeling like reading was a job. Kids reading a book written for kids! Would Scholastic Book Club approve something that would damage young minds? No they would not!

Was it the fact the hero wore tidy whitties with his cape? I bet many men make life changing decision’s or even acts of heroism in their under ware. What I know for sure is any way you can inspire a child to love books is worth it. Some kids fall in love with books because they see their parents’ passion for reading, others by the guidance of an intuitive school librarian, some because they see the movie first. Who cares why they love to read, as long as they read, because nothing matches the feeling you have as a parent when you see your child curled up reading for pure enjoyment.

5 tips to inspire kids to read

1. Model for your children that reading is enjoyable and is something you do often and with gusto.
2. Read aloud to your children every day.
3. Label everything in your child’s room on a flashcards like bed, bookcase, closet. This makes the connection that learning to read simple words leads to learning to read books.
4. Show children how useful reading is in their everyday life. For example, when children discover that reading is necessary to understanding directions for putting a toy together, playing games, or following a recipe, they will be more excited about it.
5. Figure out what they are interested in a find books that support it

About the author: Children’s Lifestyle Expert and Author Lisa Dunn-Dern is a multi-faceted talent whose skill and expertise shines over many different areas of arts and education. Her second children’s book, “Dr. Duncan Dog On Duty!” published in 2007, features a family and their therapy dog that visits children in the hospital every week. This book received accolades from Yolanda King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King.