Guest Post: Five Ways of Getting Kids to Read the Classics

Dr. Seuss told us years ago, “The more that you read, the more you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” This is great advice for children of all ages. There is no better way to travel worldwide and learn about life and people and everything else than by reading! With the distractions of video gaming, TV viewing and listening to music on an IPod, a parent or caregiver needs to be a bit savvy with electronic gadgets to entice youngsters to broaden a child’s horizons into reading the classics.

Picture Coutesy of http://kidsoffthecouch.com/

1. E-readers
E-readers are relatively inexpensive, ranging from less than $100 to $300, and come with an instant tap into the world of classical books from the e-book vendors and local public libraries. Kindle offers a Premium Membership for an annual fee which allows the member to borrow and return e-books for free.

2. Public Library Offers
Check with your local public library for the latest form of digital books. Digital books come in various forms from recordings on compact disc to a digital player resembling an IPod. These types of digital books are often theatrical quality with voice changes and background music to enhance the experience. Some public libraries may have compact disc players with earplugs to borrow, too. Compact discs may be played in laptops and some video equipment. Broaden your horizons and discover different ways to make the experience memorable.

3. Have You Read a Good Movie Lately?
Introduce the classics to your child with DVD recordings. What pre-teen could resist Leonardo DiCaprio’s version of “Romeo and Juliet?” An intro to the musical “Kiss Me, Kate” is a great segue to Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” A quick Internet search will give you a plethora of titles of classics to film available for download, borrowing or purchase.

4. Be a Good Example
Along with the digital enticements there is no better way to teach a child about a good habit than to lead by example. Show them the importance of reading by reading regularly, too. Expand your book shelf to include a few classics, too.

5. Quality, Not Quantity
Last but not least, remember reading is a pleasure. Do not measure or compare progress by the number of books read. Reading is all about quality, not quantity.

About the Author:

This guest post is contributed by Debra Johnson, blogger and editor of full time nanny.

She welcomes your comments at her email Id: – jdebra84 @ gmail.com.