Page 39 - Silver Lakes April Issue 2023

TODAY’S CHILD

3. Create a reading-friendly environment: also ask them to recommend books For young children (ages 0-5):
Create a cosy and comfortable to you, and read them together as a • The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
reading space in your home. This family. • Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
could be a corner of the living room • Where the Wild Things Are by
or a dedicated reading nook in their 6. Make reading a fun activity: Maurice Sendak
bedroom. Make sure there is enough Reading should not be a chore or • Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
light, a comfortable chair or cushion, a punishment. Instead, make it an • Any book by Julia Donaldson
and plenty of books to choose from. enjoyable activity by incorporating it
You could also play some soft music in into your daily routine. For example, For foundation phase children
the background to create a calm and you could read to your child before (ages 6-9):
relaxing atmosphere. bedtime or have a family reading • Giraffe’s Knot by Michaël Escoffier and
hour on weekends. You could also Kris Di Giacomo
4. Start early: It is never too early to start organise a book club for your child • Angry Owl Goes Swimming by KerrynPonter
reading to your child. Even if they are and their friends, where they can • The Elephant Who Was Scared by
too young to understand the words, discuss their favourite books and Rachel Elliot
they will still enjoy the sound of your exchange recommendations. • The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
voice and the colourful illustrations in • The Twits by Roald Dahl
the books. As they grow older, they 7. Celebrate reading milestones: • George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
will develop an interest in the stories Celebrate your child’s reading • Any book by David Walliams
and characters and eventually start milestones by praising them and • The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series
reading on their own. rewarding them with small treats
or prizes. This will motivate them to For intermediate phase children
5. Let your child choose the books: keep reading and make them proud (ages10-13):
Encourage your child to choose the of their achievements. Encouraging • Holes by Louis Sachar
books they want to read. Take them to your children to read is one of the • The Fablehaven book series by
the library or bookstore and let them best gifts you can give them. If you Brandon Mull
browse the shelves. This will give them are not sure where to start, here are • The Land of Stories series by American
a sense of ownership and make them some recommended books broken Chris Colfer
more interested in reading. You could down by age group to get you started: • Any book by David Walliams
• The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series
• The Witches by Roald Dahl
• Matilda by Roald Dahl
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

For teenagers (ages 13-18):
• Eragon by Christopher Paolini
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by
Stephen Chbosky
• The Princess Bride by William Goldman
• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the
Night-Time by Mark Haddon

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