The way that children feel that others think about reading’s importance
affects their own reading attitudes. If children rarely see their
parents read, they gain the perception that reading is not too
important. It develops an attitude of “Why should I read, you never
do?” The opposite is true as well, the more children see their parents
read the more important it becomes in their minds. This can be
especially true for boys in father-son relationships. Whether it’s from
cultural or social influences, research has shown that many boy
“non-readers” view books as feminine or uncool. That same research
shows that as boys see their fathers reading (or other significant male
role models, such as grandfathers, uncles, brothers, and teachers),
they more than likely will overcome this perception.
Regardless of whether you’re talking about boys or girls, the idea is
that children need positive role models that will inspire them to read.
When they constantly see you enjoying a variety of good books, it sends
the message that “Reading is fun!” “Reading is cool!” “Reading is
important!” “Reading is just what I need!”
Want your kids to be readers? First, be a reader yourself.
Here are a few resources that talk about the idea of modeling reading
to children:
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