We all know reading is good for us, but did you know voluntary reading is especially powerful in our children’s literacy development?
Voluntary reading is when someone would pick up a book of their choice to read in their own time at their own will. Try to imagine yourself as a child who loves eating chocolates – when you see chocolate on the table, you need not be asked and would pick it up on your own to eat and enjoy it.
Now replace the chocolate with a book. Wouldn’t it be nice if your child walks past a book and will pick it up to read without being asked, most importantly actually enjoys reading it! For this to happen, the book needs to be as attractive as the chocolate. Just like eating, every child would have a slightly different taste and preference when it comes to reading.
This book needs to be attractive enough and seen as an activity that is enjoyable. There is a term in the literacy world called the ‘home run book’. This is used to describe a particular book that gave someone a positive reading experience which started them onto the path of becoming dedicated readers. It is almost like a catalyst or a spark that leads to life-long voluntary reading.
You may ask how to find this home run book? We have a simple rule of thumb – don’t force your child to read something that even you don’t find interesting yourself. Children are only self-motivated to do something when they find it interesting and enjoyable.
Everyone’s home run book would be different. It could be a comic, a joke book, a historic story, a fairy tale etc. Take cues from the topics that your child is interested in and try to expose them to a wide variety of books. Read together with your child, have fun and enjoy the process and never make it a chore.
Once a child had experienced the joy from reading, they will keep looking for more. Be part of your child’s reading journey and help them with access to more books – even after they can read on their own. Obtain books from shops, swap with friends, from the library, or even e-books as they are more easily accessible. Keep reading alive, how you read or in what format doesn’t really matter, remember reading can be found in the most unexpected places!
The more voluntary reading a child does, their literacy development such as vocabulary, spelling ability and grammatical constructions knowledge will just happen naturally. Isn’t this a nice way to advance on a language rather than learning through homework and worksheets?
Let us wish every child will be able to find their home run book!
