How Can I Raise A Bookworm?

According to Laura Hahn, to foster a love of reading, keep reading together! Even if your kids can breeze through the Percy Jackson series solo, reading aloud can expand your children's vocabulary, and your conversations can help them understand and enjoy more. " This is how you can raise a confident, lifelong reader," says Diane W. Frankenstein, author of Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read. Yet the number of kids who are read to every day drops significantly at age 9, reports a recent Scholastic study. So, regardless of your child's age or comprehension level, continue to read together ritual. Maximize your time with these three strategies:

1. Pick on-par books. Shelve books that seem way over your child's head. It's tempting to push his/her literary limits, but the goal is understanding and enjoying.

2. Listen to audio books. It's not cheating, really; it's a terrific way to engage kids in a good yarn. Press "Play" during car rides or after dinner.

3. Revisit favorites. A second read is a great chance to discuss subtleties and encourage him/her to move beyond just the plot.