If you can't seem to get your children interested in reading a children's book or listening to stories, but your children do enjoy watching TV shows and movies, you might try these techniques to get them enthused about children's books and reading.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: 2 hours
Here's How:
- Check at the library for movies or download movies based on children's books.
- If your child enjoys the movie, introduce him to the book.
- Read the book together, comparing and contrasting the book and the movie.
- If your child seems intrigued by a particular character or animal (like the elephants in The Jungle Book movie), take her to the library and look for children's books about related subjects.
- Reinforce a favorite children's book with a video. For example, both the book There's a Nightmare in My Closet and the video are excellent.
- Take your children to see (or show them) children's movies that are based on children's books. Follow-up with the book. An example is the book Because of Winn-Dixie (see my review) by Kate DiCamillo. The movie version of Because of Winn-Dixie (compare prices) is available at many libraries and online bookstores.
- You can also use book versions of children's movies, like the movie Toy Story 3 to interest your children. For example, for ages 3-8, use Toy Story 3: A Read-Aloud Storybook (Compare prices.) For ages 8-12, try Toy Story 3: The Junior Novelization (Compare prices.)
- Watch your child's television viewing habits to get ideas of his special interests (like sports, adventure, science) and find books related to them.
- Check your public television station for movies/shows based on children's books. There are some excellent ones, like Anne of Green Gables. You might also check your public library or bookstores with DVD sections. (Compare prices).
- If your older child is a reluctant reader but an enthusiastic fan, get him books about the popular young singers and actors he likes.
- See if there are children's books related to your child's favorite TV shows. For example, for younger children, you can find Blue's Clues, Barney, and Sesame Street books.
Tips:
- It's a good idea to preview the videos/DVDs and read reviews of the movies before your child sees them.
- Ask other parents for suggestions of good TV shows, movies and books.
- Public libraries tend to have excellent selections of DVDs/videos of movies and TV shows based on children's literature.
What You Need
- library card
- or money for rental/purchase of books, DVDs
- DVDs/videos of TV shows
- children's movies on DVD/video
- admission fees for new children's movies
- related children's books
