How to Create a Reading Habit and Ditch the Digital Dependency
If you find the right kind of book, then you can help your child read independently much faster than you think.
Have you ever wondered: how do you get your child to pick up the books that are just sitting there on the bookshelf? Perhaps you just haven’t bought them the right book yet!
As a disclaimer, it’s up to your personal discretion on the actual content of the books recommended below and if your child is old enough to be exposed to it. This blog post is mainly focused on The Storey Treehouse series and its ability to turn one really digitally-inclined iPad and Nintendo Switch user into a book worm in a matter of weeks.
It all began when I went to a bookstore and I disregarded my inclination to get what I wanted my child to read (science fiction books and science books) but to just get what was in plain writing on the wall: the best selling book for young readers.
I purchased The 143-Storey Treehouse book and gave it to my child.
“Mommy, this is too long,” he said, as he continued to watch a show on his iPad.
“Okay, read 10 pages and then go back to the iPad,” I said.
He agreed and happily put the book down after he finished 10 pages.
This is going to take a long time I thought.
I read some pages along side of him. But mostly he slogged his way through the book in 10 page increments.
Then I bought him a bookmark. Life changing 😅.
The big milestone occured when he completed the entire book and he assumed this meant he would get a reward.
The book is brilliant in the way it used illustrations on each page to tell the story. This way, each page isn’t filled with just words. And the illustrations are interesting enough to just look at and discuss as well.
Unlike Dog Man and other popular series, it’s not written as if it’s a comic book. I like this because it uses normal font for the words so it trains kids to move onto the other books with less illustrations.
So I went back to the bookstore to buy the rest of the collection: 10 more books. The series is based on two friends Andy and Terry, who go on adventures in their ever growing treehouse. For example:
My son read each book faster. And he noticed that and it motivated him to keep on going.
He also varied the number of places he read: at the dinner table, on the couch, in bed, in the reading corner, in the car, in class before morning class, and even at a coffeeshop.
Fortunately, he didn’t ask for a reward after completing every book and can feel the satisfaction of finishing each book. He has 4 more books to go and then he will be done with the series.
Praise works wonders, especially when celebrating when he reaches The End page.
It’s no surprise that the author Andy Griffiths is Australia’s most popular children’s writer - the amount of intrigue he delivers has surpassed other comparable young readers books in the market.
If you have any recommendations on other addicting book series, please write in the comments below.