How to raise kids with passion for reading?

In one of my previous posts, I promised to write about helping your children develop the passion for books and for reading.

The main idea is to do it softly and slowly, make an evolution not a revolution.

Here are some basic ideas, I might add some more in the future.

Create a "reading friendly" environment
There should be a space at home where your kids feel comfortable to read. It doesn't have to be stylish or specially designed, it simply needs to be convenient and give the child the tranquility needed to spend some time with a book.

• Try to avoid placing some other devices in that space that might distract the children from reading (such as a TV or a computer).
• Place the books for younger children where they can be reached. A child can grab a book even before s/he starts reading. 
• At a very young age let them turn pages and watch the illustrations. 
• When they are a bit older they can repeat parts of the story they know by heart.
• You should match the books they can reach, to their age.
• Offer only a limited amount of books and change the variety from time to time. 

 
Give them a good example
They should see you reading a book every now and then.

• Tell them about books you loved as children.
• Show them the books you currently read. You can also tell them what the book is about, adjusting the level of the description to their level of understanding.
• If the book you read is funny, lough out loud and tell them in general what was it that made you laugh.
• They should see you get excited from what you read.

Make reading a daily habit
This should be a fun activity and not an obligation.

• Involve them in the reading process.
• Ask them questions and encourage them to ask questions.
• Let them dramatize stories you read together.

Take them to the library
Get them their own card.

• Encourage them to exchange books frequently.
• Let them choose the books they like after reviewing them with you.
• Start doing it before your children read. They don't need to read themselves in order to be registered at the library.
• Look for special events for kids in the library. Those events are very educational and usually free of charge and free of advertisement. 

Teach them how important it is to pay respect for books
You must insist that the kids keep their books clean and whole, and put them back in place when they are done reading. 

Turn books into something special

• Buy them books as presents for birthdays and special events.
• Buy books for their friends for birthdays and let your kids choose those books. You can limit the selection they have to choose from.

Create books with them and especially for them using http://batalugu.com

• Its educational, fun, easy and FREE!

As always, I would love to get your comments.

Tell a tale,
Dorit Rosen
Founder
Batalugu

On the edge of a new school year

The summer vacation is heading to its finish line and school's first day is around the corner.
These days almost every family is busy either with its last chance for recreation, or completing preparations for school.

This is a great time to take a pause, gather the whole family and summarize the vacation.
You can make a list of all the special things you have done during the summer: camps, trips, vacations and visits. You can of course, mention all kinds of other activities indoor and outdoor. Don't forget special projects you had.
At my sister's house, for example, they had a summer project - the kids scanned all the thousands of paper photos (it is hard to remember, but, until 12-15 years ago you had to develop your photos on paper without having a soft copy on your computer).
60 days is a very long time, and the kids probably do not remember what happened in the beginning of the summer vacation.

Using the list, you can create a beautiful memory book, uploading your own photos and combining them with text and the cute illustrations of Batalugu.
This can be your family's final joint summer activity.

In addition, have a short brief of the coming school year, emphasizing the changes from last year.
Who is going to which school/kindergarten/daycare, teachers' names, special arrangements etc.,

If you have a special event this year, such as: one of the kids is going to kindergarten, first grade or a new school, celebrate it.
Have a nice dinner party on Aug 31st, invite close friends and family, and simply enjoy your time.
Thinking about it again... have a dinner party anyway. You don't need to have an excuse for that, do you?

I wish you all a great summer vacation ending and the best of luck at school.
Tell a tale,

Dorit Rosen
Product Manager, Batalugu.

Its all about reading ...

Have you ever stopped to think about one of the most important skills (if not THE most important skill) one can acquire?
I am talking about reading of course. Almost every single action we do during our day involves reading.
We read the labels when we shop, we read the signs when we drive, we read our mail and the news (whether electronic or in paper), we read our medical reports and tests results, we get written instructions to operate things, we read professional materials and so on, and so on...
Only when we stop to think about it, we realize what an important part reading takes in our daily life, even before mentioning reading for fun.

I don't believe that anyone can even think about living in the 21st century without being able to read.

But the big questions are:

• How can we make reading much more than a basic skill?
• How can we develop passion for reading in our children?
• How can we turn reading to a meaningful part of their life?

There are so many things we can do in order to make reading a major factor in our children's life.

I will only mention some basic things such as:

• Read books with them every day before bed time, starting at a very young age
• Let them hold books and look at the illustrations
• Ask them questions about the books you read together
• Encourage them to ask questions themselves

I will elaborate on this subject in one of my coming blogs.
Right now I have a different suggestion (on top of all the other activities which are very important). 
Something that will help them bond to books on an emotional level.

• Create books especially for them. Write about:

• subjects from their own lives
• events you want them to remember
• things you want to teach them
• issues they need to deal with

• Dedicate the book to them and add their photos

• Involve your kids in the book creation process

• Let them express their creativity and become young authors

Those will be their own special books that they will cherish forever.
You can do all this staff in a very joyful and user friendly way using batalugu.com.
You can also share your books online with friends and family.

So, have fun reading and writing to and with your kids.
Tell a tale,
Dorit