How to Keep Your Child Excited About Reading (Part 2)

There comes a time when we have to admit that staying focused can be one of our most complex challenges. If we're honest with ourselves, day by day, we become increasingly distracted by everything around us.

With the new technology, social media, and the pandemic's effects, lack of focus has inadvertently become one of the greatest threats to a child's education. You may see your child dozing off, playing with their toys, or watching television when it's time to read. This can indicate that perhaps they're reading a book they are not interested in. In part one, we discussed tips to help your child improve their focus. Those included: getting rid of all distractions, increasing hands-on time, reading aloud, and making learning fun.

Below are some additional tips that can help your child remain focused:

1. Offer Rewards

Kids respond well to rewards. An American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education study concluded that "appropriate incentives may be effective in changing student performance." Maybe your child has read for two hours every day for a week straight; offering something that will make them smile will have a positive impact. It can even be as simple as stars on a reward chart. (I'd like for you to make one custom for Solomon Tutoring)

• Take them out for some ice cream.

• Allow them to play with their devices for an extra 30 minutes

• Go shopping for their favorite toy

• Go to a local amusement park

2. Create a Designated Reading Area and Schedule

Find a quiet, well-lit part of your house so your child can get comfortable. You can try giving them finger snacks that can last 15-30 minutes, like fruits or Teddy Grahams. You can make it a trip to the library or have a reading picnic in the park where you both get a book and read. Consistency is critical, so you can make the goal of reading 3-5 short books a wee

3. Have Fun by Being Creative

Learning is fun when you make it fun! Be creative and strategic!

Use their interests and find books or stories about that topic.

If they like basketball and need to improve their math skills, search for basketball-themed word problems. If they enjoy playing with cars, If they want adventure, try finding some adventure books that spark their interest and let them learn about foreign cultures, animals, nature, or all three! Give them the option to choose what books they would like to read, and they will feel more enthusiastic about reading them. This ensures that they are not only learning, but they're having fun doing it!

4.Ensure That Their Physical Needs Are Met

Focusing can be difficult if your child is not well-rested. Studies show that a child is supposed to receive about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Studies also show that if your child is hungry or thirsty and is about to read or complete an assignment, they are more likely to be distracted than learning ready. People, let alone children have needs that directly impact their ability to concentrate on the task. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs and his study findings, "learners will show little to no motivation or attention if most of their needs are not met." Therefore, this stresses the importance of ensuring that your child is well-nourished before starting to read!

As a suggestion, before your child starts reading, prepare a bowl of fruits and a glass of water so as they read, they'll remain focused on the book in front of them.

Please share this article so that others can know more about the importance of reading and ways to increase their focus and excitement!

Sources:

• http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2018/01/positive-attitude-toward-math-predicts-math-achievement-in-kids.html 

• https://api.nationalgeographic.com/distribution/public/amp/family/2020/05/how-to-keep-kids-positive-through-pandemic-coronavirus

• https://blog.hubspot.com/service/positive-attitude

• https://www.oxfordlearning.com/why-can't-my-child-focus/ 

• https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/aviation_instructors_handbook/media/04_aih_chapter_2.pdf 

#positivity #positive #reading #positiveattitude #positivethroughpandemic #remotelearning #remotelearningtips #becomeabetterstudentin2022 #focus #mindfulness

Contributors:

Delia is a dedicated member of the Solomon Tutoring Writing Team. She is pursuing a degree in elementary education and business, and enjoys reading, singing, dancing, and being around nature.

Tunisia Solomon, founder and CEO of Solomon Tutoring enjoys sharing educational tips to help students reach academic excellence. She believes that anyone can achieve their dreams with access to the correct information, a growth mindset, belief in oneself, and "smart" work.