It’s not easy to teach your children how to read, especially when they’d rather run around and play games. If this skill weren’t necessary, though, we wouldn’t bother. It provides a lot of benefits that’ll serve your children for the rest of their lives. Thankfully, there are many ways to make this process more enjoyable. Soon enough, your kids won’t be able to put down their books.Here are some fun reading activities for kindergartners that you can try:
1. Make Story Time Interactive
Every night, set aside time to read a chapter of a story. After you get through a few sentences, ask your child what they think happens next. They can use their imagination to add to the tale. Then, you can make guesses — and the next night, you can see if either of you got anything right. Of course, your kindergartner can’t make an accurate prediction, but this activity encourages imaginative thoughts.Turn your nightly reading sessions into a more interactive experience by trying this tip — it can foster fun memories for your kids.
2. Discover New Resources
Try not to stick to traditional kids’ books. Instead, seek out a variety of materials. Order children’s magazines, comics and newspapers. This way, you can explore different interests and learn about new topics. A regular book tends to feel a little old after a while, especially when your child doesn’t care about its content. You don’t need to provide a constant supply of new books, but you should offer diversity.More than 58% of parents agree that diversity matters because their children need to understand multiple viewpoints as they grow older. Choose resources that address various experiences, so your kid can read about many different people and cultures.
3. Try a Scavenger Hunt
Kids love to explore, so why not create a scavenger hunt? You can print out simple phrases, like animal or fruit names, and hide them around the house. If you want to use single letters, that approach works as well. Ask your child to look for each item and provide hints and clues when needed. Set a timer and let them loose!When the alarm rings, your child should bring back whatever they’ve found. They can match words to pictures to earn a prize — or they can use letters to spell out a specific phrase. Feel free to make your scavenger hunt as easy or as difficult as your child’s reading level allows.
4. Use a Tablet
Screentime isn’t ideal, but often, parents need to take a break. Thankfully, many interactive and educational apps can encourage your kid to learn how to read. After you install a couple, be sure to download some e-books as well. Your child can rotate between separate activities so they don’t feel bored. Plus, whenever you run out of books or magazines, you can turn on your tablet.Make sure to install parental controls and locks beforehand.
5. Bake a Book-Related Recipe
A lot of books mention exciting recipes, like “Green Eggs and Ham.” You and your child can read through various publications and look for food to cook. Then, search through different recipes and gather the right ingredients. Head to the kitchen so you can get to work! Your kid can read through the instructions and locate specific tools and items you’ll need to use.This idea proves to be one of the most fun reading activities, as your child can eat just like their favorite book characters.
6. Organize Field Trips
If you want to relate books to real life, organize some unique excursions. After you read about a specific subject, find an activity that relates. For example, if you finished a chapter where the main character plays soccer, you could attend a local soccer game. When there’s a particularly sensitive topic, take your child to an exhibit that touches on that matter.Whenever you go on your field trip, talk about the book and how it relates. If you can’t set aside an afternoon, look online for virtual museum tours and other online supplemental resources.
7. Create a Reading Nook
Often, it’s all about your environment! When there’s a cozy atmosphere, it’s much easier to relax and read. Find a quiet, empty corner and turn it into a book nook. You could even dress up a spare closet if you don’t have space. Use pillows, blankets and other soft objects to make it comfortable. You can add string lights, too. Stack books along the wall or buy a small shelf for your kid to access their reads.Make time every day for your child to hang out inside their book corner.
8. Play a Board Game
You can modify games like Scrabble and Pictionary to fit your kid’s reading level. Set up a family board game night where everyone votes on a particular game to play. Then, tweak the rules a bit so each person has the same chance at success. When your child acts out a scene based on a card or spells a word to win a point, they can have a lot of fun while reading.For the most part, they won’t even notice that they’re learning as they take part.
Try These Fun Reading Activities Today
Thankfully, learning how to read doesn’t take a village. You can use these fun reading activities to make everything much more enjoyable.
