Fostering a Love for Reading: 9 Inspirational Stories
We asked nine leaders, including founders and CEOs, to share their personal stories on how they instilled a love for reading in their children and the impact it had on their learning journey. From engaging learners with Pippi Longstocking to letting curiosity guide the learning journey, these leaders offer a wealth of insights and strategies to inspire a love for reading in children.
- Engaging Learners with Pippi Longstocking
- Cultivating Reading with Bedtime Stories and Variety
- Disregarding Limitations
- Igniting Passion with Reading Challenges
- Growing from Dictionary to Classics
- Prioritizing Reading as an Integral Part of the Daily Routine
- Making Reading Fun and Rewarding
- Combining Nightly Reading Sessions and Library Visits
- Letting Curiosity Guide the Learning Journey
Engaging Learners with Pippi Longstocking
When working with young learners, I spend a large amount of my time discussing images that we see in the book and interpreting these images, noticing details, and making our own predictions of what is going to happen next.
One of my favorite books for performing these critical-thinking activities is Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking. The children think she is extremely silly and really engage well with this type of zany character. She is constantly performing outrageous and hilarious acts—and they’re fun to talk about in class and get a reaction out of the students.
Kristine Thorndyke
Founder, Test Prep Nerds
Cultivating Reading with Bedtime Stories and Variety
As a parent, I made it a priority to cultivate a love for reading in my child from a very young age. I vividly recall the evenings spent reading bedtime stories, making it an interactive experience by using different voices for characters and encouraging my child to ask questions and make predictions about the plot.
I ensured our home had a variety of books readily available, catering to my child’s evolving interests and preferences. Whether it was fairy tales, adventure stories, or non-fiction books about animals or space, I always made sure there was something to capture their imagination.
The impact of fostering a love for reading was profound on my child’s overall learning journey. Not only did their vocabulary and language skills expand exponentially, but their curiosity and thirst for knowledge also grew. It significantly enhanced their academic performance across subjects, improved their critical-thinking abilities, and nurtured their creativity.
Andre Oentoro
CEO and Founder, Breadnbeyond
Disregarding Limitations
When it comes to fostering a love of reading in my children, I’ve found it helpful to not focus too closely on age recommendations. In my family, I’ve seen it go both ways: sometimes, kids love the comfort of an old favorite far below their capabilities, and sometimes they’re drawn to a popular book aimed at an older generation.
Setting limits on what they can enjoy is a surefire way to turn them off entirely. Instead, I make sure that their old reads remain on standby, and give books with more adult themes a pre-read so we can discuss any questionable themes ahead of time.
Keeping all sections open to all ages lets kids develop at their own speed and helps them understand that reading serves many purposes, from comfort to education.
Linn Atiyeh
CEO, Bemana
Igniting Passion with Reading Challenges
I introduced reading challenges to my child, which ignited their passion for reading and greatly impacted their learning journey. For instance, I created a challenge to read ten different genres within six months. This not only exposed them to a wide variety of literature but also sparked their curiosity to explore new authors and subjects.
One remarkable outcome was when they reluctantly started reading a mystery novel, but ended up thoroughly enjoying it and delving into the entire series. This challenge expanded their reading preferences, enhanced critical-thinking skills, and enriched their overall learning experience.
Ben Lau
Founder, Featured SEO Company
Growing from Dictionary to Classics
In this story, I was the child, and my dad got me into reading. When I turned eight, he gifted me a Merriam-Webster dictionary. It wasn’t obvious then why, but I was going to need it.
We would read the Sunday paper together. He would finish first and highlight stories that he thought I would appreciate as an eight-year-old, and we would discuss it afterward. My dad also had a home library, and he’d choose a classic for me to read—at least five pages a day. We then discussed it every weekend.
Just like that, I found myself borrowing books from my school’s library, and in high school, I started buying my own books using my savings. Now, as an adult, I have developed a habit of reading before going to sleep for at least two to three hours, putting me at around 100 to 120 books read per year. It’s shaped my career because I developed a passion for writing, which is what I currently do for a living, and learning English became such a breeze for me.
Gen Ariton
PR and Outreach, CodeinWP
Prioritizing Reading as an Integral Part of the Daily Routine
From an early age, I made a conscious effort to make reading an integral part of our daily routine. Even before my child could read independently, we engaged in interactive reading sessions where I would read aloud, emphasizing the joy and excitement of storytelling. I carefully selected a variety of books, considering their interests and gradually introducing diverse genres.
As my child began to develop basic reading skills, I encouraged them to participate in the reading process. We took turns reading sentences or pages, fostering a sense of shared accomplishment. This collaborative approach not only strengthened their reading abilities but also created positive associations with the act of reading itself.
As my child progressed through school, the early emphasis on reading manifested in remarkable ways. They demonstrated advanced language skills, a rich vocabulary, and a deep appreciation for storytelling.
Mark Fong, General Manager, CEO, hexagon lights
Making Reading Fun and Rewarding
When my son was four years old, he was not very interested in reading books. He preferred to play with his toys, watch cartoons, or play video games. I wanted to encourage him to read more because I knew that reading could help him develop his language, imagination, and curiosity.
So, I tried a different approach. Instead of forcing him to read books he did not like, I let him choose the books that he wanted to read. I also made reading a fun and interactive activity by reading aloud with him, asking him questions, and acting out the scenes. I also rewarded him with stickers, praises, and hugs whenever he finished a book or learned an unfamiliar word.
Gradually, he enjoyed reading more, and he became more confident and enthusiastic about it. He also became more interested in learning new things, such as animals, planets, and cultures. Now, he is seven years old, and he loves to read all kinds of books, from fiction to nonfiction, from comics to classics.
Gabrielle Yap
Senior Editor, Carnivore Style
Combining Nightly Reading Sessions and Library Visits
Instilling a love for reading in my brother Diego’s daughter, Sarah, began with nightly reading sessions. No matter the day’s busyness, we’d dive into books, bringing stories to life through discussions and acting out scenes.
As Sarah grew, she chose books, sometimes challenging ones, which we tackled together, enhancing her skills and confidence. Regular library visits became treasure hunts for new worlds in books, with librarians suggesting titles for Sarah. This love for reading boosted her academic performance, enriching her vocabulary and comprehension, and sparked her creativity and storytelling abilities.
Most importantly, it fortified our bond, making each reading moment a shared journey of learning and discovery. This experience taught me that fostering a love for reading is about inspiring the joy and endless possibilities of books.
Aldi Agaj
CEO, Alter Learning
Letting Curiosity Guide the Learning Journey
We have taken a different approach to our kid’s education—we simply let them be curious. Curious about the world around them. There is no set curriculum. This was scary at first, but there is beauty and innocence that comes when you let your kid explore what interests them.
Mermaids? Math? Numbers? Yes, our oldest was fascinated by numbers. He always asked about digital clocks, microwave timers, and oven clocks, wanting to know more. When he was four, he taught his little sister that 2 + 2 is 4. Nothing we had chatted about with him before; he was just sorting out the pieces himself and passing on that knowledge.
The same went for reading. He started following along as we read, pointing out letters he knew, asking us what they meant, and then storing them away. I’ve got a library full of books, and some of my old engineering books caught his eye. Now, he is exploring thermodynamics textbooks at five years old, learning about engines, turbines, and more, totally in love with learning.
Lewis Vandervalk
Owner, Blue Crocus Solutions
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