As fall inches closer, so does the beginning of the school year for most children and their parents. And that means getting children to fall into a routine with their reading habits. One expert suggests making the task more engaging, rather than treating it like a chore. Parents should ask themselves is how to get their children back into the habit of reading, Kate Cattell-Daniels, a children’s librarian with the Toronto Public Library, told CTV Your Morning this week. “Mainly, I usually say just follow their interests,” she said. Cattell-Daniels said it’s imperative for children to be interested in the material they’re reading, and if they show signs of disinterest, those are “big clues” that they’re not reading the right thing. There is also the question of format, she added. Some children prefer graphic novels over standard novels, while for some children an audiobook can be another way to read in a non-traditional way. According to the children’s librarian, building a reading routine begins with visits to the library. “You get yourself a library card if you don’t have one already (which is) free, if you work, live, or go to school in the city of Toronto,” Cattell-Daniels said. “I would suggest building the library in as part of your routine, same as you would do like swimming lessons or any other extracurriculars. Make us part of your weekly routine.” She suggests parents “unleash” their children in the library, letting them wander around and gravitate towards the topics of their interest. Reading doesn’t need to feel like an activity that puts pressure on children, she said, adding that there is no reason to “rush” the process. “You can pick it up whenever – in the car, on the subway, in between classes at school, whatever you need. Your book is just there for you. It’s not putting any time pressure on you,” Cattell-Daniels said. The library also offers programs that can help aid in building a child’s literacy skills, she noted. For instance, she recommends the “Dial-A-Story” program offered through the library where children can listen to a story being read to them through a phone call in multiple languages, at any time of the day. “It’s an amazing service and really underused,” Cattell-Daniels said. Parents can also look at books with their young children and discuss the story, while finding interesting things on the page they’re discussing, she said. “You’re still interacting with the book and learning about how reading works, which is fundamental for kids. It’s not only about the words on the page, but also how do you turn the page, how do you hold a book the right way up?” Cattell-Daniels said. “It’s deeper for them in in a different way from it than it is for adults.”
