6 Tips for Parents:Encouraging Your Teen to Read by Shelia M. Goss

November 4, 2009 By RAWSISTAZ

As parents or guardians, finding ways to encourage your teenager to read may be difficult but itâ€™s not an impossible task. Below are a few tips:

1. Show by example. Let your kids see you readingâ€”newspaper, magazine, books, etc.
2. Find out your childâ€™s interest. Find a way to connect his or her interest to reading material.
3. Take your teen to the library or book store. Ask your librarian for book suggestions. When at the book store, let your child wander the aisles and observe which area of books seem to hold their attention.
4. Buy a book on his or her favorite interest. If your teen loves video games, surprise him or her with a book on the characters of those video games.Â If your teen watches TV shows like Gossip Girl or Thatâ€™s So Raven, find those books at the library or book store and surprise your teen with it. The key is to show your child they can find interesting things in between the pages of a book.
5. Encourage reading. For those of you whose teens may be reading material you deem inappropriate, try to explain to the teenager why you feel that way and offer alternate reads.
6. Read young adult books too and discuss. Itâ€™s a great way to start dialogue and could lead to ongoing communication with the teen in your life.