At young ages we are all taught to read. Typically the process begins when we are sent to Kindergarten. During this time we learn the basics as everyone knows, the alphabet. This is our early reading and many people don’t realize it. We are taught to recognize the letters and remember how they are shaped. Many of our teachers used a series of flash cards that have pictures on them. A good example: A is for Apple. This of course was a popular one used.
Today, with technology changing as much as it has, we are finding that many of the school books have changed. History books are being compounded and many very important turning points in history are being reduced to less than a paragraph long. Sorry to say, this is pathetic and really needs to be looked at again by our educators and the publishers of those great history books. I was highly appalled when I saw my son’s history book, to find that information on the Trojan Wars was reduced to a three sentence paragraph.
If we want to get our children away from so many computerized devices and focusing more on life, it is time for each of us to take the initiative and do it for ourselves first. We as adults have also gotten sucked into the computer age. Let’s face it, you are sitting right now, reading print on the computer. When was the last time you actually picked up a book from the library and read it? I am sure like many of us, it has been quite a while. We have gotten sucked into thinking that the Internet will provide all we need for reading material. Sorry folks, this isn’t true.
Now is the time to get back to basics. It is time for us to set an example for our children and get them back into the habit of reading actual literature once again. Here are some ways of getting yourself back on track to the benefits of reading.
For the appointment minded!
Many of us are used to having to schedule an appointment for so many things going on in our lives. Well, why not schedule time to read as well?
1) Take a look at your appointment schedule. Do you have time in the morning? If not, maybe you should change the time you wake say 30 minutes earlier, create a 30 minute window that is just reading time for yourself. This is an easy enough goal to reach. But, remember to write it in your appointment schedule. This is very important. If you are a creature of habit, what ever is written on that schedule will get done; if it isn’t there, you won’t remember it. And when you do, you will either find something else that has to be done or you will be too tired.
2) Pick a beginning subject. One that you have been interested in for quite some time. During your schedule reading time, begin by finding the reading material. You may have to schedule more time than usual so you have the time to find just the right book. Maybe schedule it into your lunch break as well. This will help get you going.
SUNDAY READING DAY FOR THE FAMILY!!!
Time to get the whole family involved in reading. It doesn’t have to be the entire Sunday that everyone reads. You could actually set up a block of time. For example, 3 hours or so. During this time, you could either have everyone gather in one room of your home to read together, or of course off in their own spaces. But, set the rule that during this time no electronic devices are to be used. Make it a standing rule. Even if you have teenagers in the house that live on cell phones and computers. It is time to use tough love. From personal experience it is very difficult, but eventually it will work. You just have to be more stubborn that your kid.
If gathering on a Sunday for everyone doesn’t seem to work, then what you may like to do, is choose an evening during the week when for 1-2 hours after dinner, everyone takes time out to read. As a rule, most teachers assign the younger children a few minutes to read each day; we as parents typically have to sign off on this. Have your child do their reading homework during this time, but add on more time and make it "Mom or Dad’s" required reading time. This is an effective way to get the habit set for your younger children. It is something they know they should and have to do.
Self improvement is always a great thing to accomplish at any age. One of the best steps to take first is in the world of reading. As we persue our goals, it is amazing at what we can find hiding on book shelves at the library, book stores, garage sales or even in our own homes. The hidden treasures that many of us forget about. We are like little children with a new gift or toy. We are eager to break into it and see what we find, a renewed energy that we didn’t realize we had.
A little bit goes a long way!
Many of us don’t feel we have the time to read. Well, there are a lot of stolen moments that each of us actually have in our lives that we don’t think about here is a brief list. You will probably walk away scratching your head when you realize that you could be using this time to read.
1) At the doctor’s office while waiting to be seen (are they ever on time?). This means the dentist too.
2) Waiting for car repairs to be completed.
3) Waiting for your lunch to arrive at a restaurant-fast food doesn’t count, unless they are taking far too long.
4) How about while your child is at a sports practice. Many of us have little ones that are playing soccer, t-ball, etc. Why not sneak a few minutes away to crawl into a good book.
These four ideas are a good way to start making reading a habit. By taking these little bits of time, you may be compelled to find other ways that you can get in some reading time. Or as stated before, set yourself an appointment. But remember this, you wouldn’t cancel a doctor’s appointment without a good reason; same thing applies to your reading appointment. Don’t cancel it unless you absolutely have to for example, the bathroom is flooding, your child just fell and hurt themselves and now you are off to the doctor.
The hardest part will be keeping yourself on your new habit of reading. But, remember this is for YOU!! This is time to improve upon your knowledge. Think of it as a new lease on schooling. You are in the college of SELF . . . improving your skills and knowledge on LIFE.
