How do you encourage your children to read?

Allow them to stay up 30 minutes past their bed time, if and only if, they are in bed reading. Worked for me!

take them to the library once or twice a week...let them choose books they find interesting...and make book/reading time interesting and fun for them!!! let them take part in reading competitions (i did that wen i was younger)...when your not buzi..u read in front ov them and show that reading can be fun...so they can see that its good stuff to do... give them treats for lyk doing activities such as reading out loud and making up stories themselves etc good luck!!! xoxox oh yes: u cud have lyk a chart...and set thema target e.g they have to read lyk 10/15 books in a week...and for each book they read they put a sticker on tha chart and they have to try and get to the top of the chart.... at the end..when they get to the top...u give them a treat/present. hope this helped!!! xxx

I would suggest picking a topic that they both find interest in and making a huge project out of it. For example if they pick sharks then you can read about them, look up pictures on the internet of them, create "flashcards" with facts, and take them to an aquarium to see some sharks. If they love chocolate have them research how it's made, try melting it at home and have them read you the directions about how to make it into different shapes, learn about where chocolate comes from in nature and you can take them to Hershey Park, PA. Kids want to learn!! A project like this will not only encourage reading but research skills! A skill that is SO important in schools. With No Child Left Behind Standards being so high, children as young as first grade are expected to read non-fiction pieces and be able to answer questions about them. These projects would be an easy way to practice this skill! Good Luck and HAVE FUN!!!

IDEA: WHAT EVER BOOK A CHILD COMPLETES ( GIVE THEM A TIME FRAME) DO SOMETHING SPECIAL-LIKE AT 6 & 7 YEARS OF AGE I HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE A BURIED TREASURE IN MY BACK YARD. I MAKE UP A MAP AND GIVE OUT DIRECTIONS AND IN PLACTIC BAGGIES-I PLACED QUATERS. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THEY WERE ANXIOUS TO SPEND IT. AND SUMMER READING WAS A LITTLE MORE ENJOYABLE. 6&7 IS STILL A FUN TIME. MINE STILL ENJOY'S IT AND HE IS 9. WAS BETTER WHEN WE INCLUDED A FRIEND. HOPE IT HELPS!

Careful, Mom! Make sure you are not pushing this! It may backfire. If they already enjoy reading, and now that it is summer, enjoy playing and being more physically active, so be it! Reading should be pleasurable, enjoyable. Not punishment. How about: 1. Making labels with you for the spices in the kitchen? 2. Making labels with Dad for the tools in the garage? 3. Having them write their name on labels inside their clothing? 4. Playing a game taking turns to see who can read signs while riding in the car? 5. Or have them cut out little labels (with safety scissors) and write names of things around the house? Chair, Bed, TV, and see who can put up the most in 15 minutes? 6. Or turn them loose in the library for 15 minutes or a book store set up for children, and go in a section near there to keep an eye on them. They don't have to read the books! What you need to keep alive this simmer is the joy of reading! No requirements for eading. That may squash their excitement. How about a chore they do not particularly like being rewarded with either 15 minutes of book time, or 15 minutes of coloring? Let them choose! Good luck!

Have a family time that u all sit & read and share info. about the books u read, with eachother.

Sounds like you are doing everything right. I like the read 5 own 1 system. Good work.

its great you want them to read. i think that they are at the point of long picture books and short chapter books. there are many, many of those! I think that the reward for every 5 books is great! just make sure the reward is what they want. just give them some books to read from the library and don't make reading like work, it should be fun! read together, ask questions, be sensitive. summer reading is fun. during the school year you can make it into homework.

I have a school teacher friend that has an hour a day set aside to to "schoolwork" Basically things that he did not do very well in during the school year or will have to be familiar with for next school year. Usually that time is right before/after dinner when he is already home, but it is negotiable. His reward, he is ahead a bit in school and they make up incentives together that usually have nothing to do with school - Bowling with a friend, miniature golfing with a friend, Going to the water park, etc -most of these can be done at off peak days or hours for a discount.