Encourage children to read for fun, and they will become their own teachers

The importance of reading to a child is of course known to all - parents are encouraged to read to their young children during their time at nursery and their first few years of primary school. Teachers will read stories to their pupils during special designated sessions. What isn`t so well known are the techniques to ensure a child learns to enjoy reading themselves. If a child`s love of reading can be engendered, they will pick up books themselves, and find their own path through the world of literature.

A little know report conducted by the Department for Education back in 2012 highlighted the importance of children developing a love of reading. Entitled `Research evidence on reading for pleasure,` the report reached a number of conclusions as to how pupils could be encouraged to enjoy reading for themselves:

1  Teachers should be proactive in helping pupils choose what books to take home. Assuming a teacher knows what particular interests a pupil has, they should be able to judge what books they will most enjoy. Of course this doesn`t mean pushing a book about adventure stories into a child`s hands, because the child has expressed an interest in adventures. The teacher will need to give an exciting synopsis of the book - they will need to be able to spark an interest in the story, so the pupil will be enthusiastic, and will want to take it home and read it themselves. The teacher will need to have a good knowledge about the library of books available for the pupil`s age group, so they will be able to select one that accords with their interests.

2 make story time in a class room a special event. Children first learn to love reading by being read to - long before a child can read for themselves they will be receptive to stories told by others. If a teacher can make `story time` in class an exciting event, then pupils will want to repeat this themselves, and so will be encouraged to seek out books in their own time. A good story teller will have an engaging delivery, and might even put on different voices for different characters in their story. They don`t have to be a Peter Ustinov, a genius in portraying different characters. Just a basic attempt at this will be enough, for children already have enough imagination.

3 Open children`s eyes to the world of different books out there. Many children might not be aware as to the limitless array of stories waiting to be read. Let them know there are stories about dragons and princesses, as well as super heroes, taking animals - anything they can think of. A teacher could compile a list of extravagant characters from different books, such as the eponymous `Fantastic Mr. Fox` of Roald Dahl, and The Dragon Smaug from Tolkien`s The Hobbit. By listing a broad range of diverse characters they will be sure to engage the interest of their pupils.

4 talk to children about what they are reading. Reading is of course a solitary act - just with yourself and a book you can lose yourself in your imagination, being guided by the author to create a whole world full of characters. By talking to children about the books they are reading, you will give them a chance to express their interest, to talk about the adventures their favorite characters are having. Engaging with an adult regarding their literary pursuits will only encourage their love of reading.

A survey commissioned by bookseller Book People back in 2017 found that one in five parts do not spend any time reading with their children, and that more than half of the parents who did read with their children spent less than an hour a week doing so. With children spending many many hours a week on tablets, phones, computer games and the television, it is a shame that the tradition printed page seems to be falling behind modern technologies.