“Reading brings us unknown friends” - Honoré de Balzac
And, the more we read, the more we can explore and think beyond boundaries. Reading is such a crucial thing for kids that every parent wants to instil this skill from an early age. But often we get biased thinking that reading is restricted to only books when it comes to a child. However, the world of reading and knowledge is much beyond books.
There are so many well-curated reading resources for kids to learn from and enjoy at the same time. Today, we will discuss a few such reading materials for kids and parents that will help them extend their scope of both reading and learning.
Here are some amazing reading materials that you and your kids can try out.
Magazines- Good children’s magazines are available both online and in print which have curated content for different age groups and from different topics. They tend to get into a habit of reading if they like it and also have a regular subscription. Examples- National Geographic, The Children’s Magazine, etc.
Newspapers – Often regular newspapers are full of inappropriate news which are not kid-friendly. So, you might want to choose a children’s newspaper or give your child a specific section to read that you've already vetted. Examples- Robinage, Nie, etc.
Manuals- For kids who want to know how things work, manuals for things like cars, lawnmowers, and appliances can be great options -- and they build vocabulary, too.
Comics- These can be a great resource to hook kids on reading. They are a great way to teach your children about the back-and-forth of dialog. Examples- Tinkle, Champak, etc.
Catalogs- Many catalogs now are so much more than just products and quick descriptions. It helps them to create wishlists and understand concise concepts.
Poetry- Rhyming is an important skill for reading, and having your children write poems on their own is a great way to build that skill.
Travel Brochures- These can be highly informational and educative resources. Kids get to know facts about places and use this information later while speaking and writing.
Encyclopedia- Encyclopedias help introductory information to help you broaden or narrow your topic, while also providing keywords and terms needed to conduct further research. This will help them to get a foundational idea and then dig into topics of their interest.
Play Scripts- Explore what it might be like to be on screen or stage by reading a few scripts together. You can even put on a play after reading them. This will help them to explore characters, emotions, plots, twists, storytelling, etc.
Road Signs- Kids start recognizing familiar signs at an early age. Keep that knowledge of environmental print going by playing sign games on road trips. Billboards or any other signboards can also be useful in this category.
Every child learns in a different way. If your child doesn’t like reading books, try to find other reading materials that might interest them. Some might like graphic materials, whereas some might prefer comic illustrations or doddles. So other than books, find something exciting and interesting for them to read- try a few from the above list if it helps.