Growing at Home - Reading for All Ages
Who wants their children to read? Especially your older kids? Reading is such a healthy hobby, and will help our children develop so many skills as they grow!
The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta says that reading exerts a positive effect on the developing brain. Reading as a family, helps develop better relationships. Reading at a young age helps children in their lifelong development and to do better in school down the road. Reading for fun helps kids develop stronger social skills, a deeper vocabulary, and more complex writing skills.
Research also shows that reading helps kids to develop empathy and to better understand their emotions. When they read fiction, their brains become part of the story and they share the emotions of the characters and therefore, books can teach our kids valuable lessons about understanding the people around them.
How to pick a book?
Picking a book is challenging, and if your child does not like it, they may give up too quickly. My friend, Athena Lester, started The Open Bookshelf to specifically help teenagers and young adults pick books that will coincide with their interests. Click “All Reviews” to get started. Her reviews and recommendations are completely free and she is always adding to the list. Give this tool to your kids to help them find the right book for them. Encourage them to ask their friends what they are reading and to read their books together. They talk about movies, why not talk about books?
To make reading a part of your children’s daily habit, make your house a “reading culture,” have books readily available, encourage the use of library apps, and take some time to read books as a family and discuss the plots.
Some favorite recommendations:
The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
Scorpio Races by Maggie Stievater
The Aurora Cycle by Amir Kauffman and Jay Kristoff
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
Holes by Louis Sachar
The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
There are endless books to choose from. Happy reading!