Non-Book Reading Activities

When we think of reading, most of us immediately think of stories. However, there are many other types of reading materials and genres that children can explore to practice their developing reading skills. A child's interest plays a crucial role in their engagement with what they are reading. Not every child is a bookworm. The more engaged a child is from the beginning, the more likely they are to associate reading with fun. It’s important to understand the educational value of other diverse reading materials, such as the following…

1. Magazines

There are lots of great magazines for kids, available both in print and online.

 

2. Comics

Don't discount the power of comics to hook kids on reading. They are a great way to teach your children about the dialogue and visualise the action. 

 

3. Manuals

Manuals for cars, lawnmowers, and appliances can be great options for kids who want to know how things work. This type of reading also builds vocabulary.

 

4. Poetry

Grab a collection of poems, or sit down and write some with your children. Rhyming is an important skill for reading, and having your children write poems on their own is a great way to build that skill.

 

5. Recipes

Cook with your kids and take turns reading the ingredients and instructions. This is an excellent example of real-life reading for kids of any age.

 

6. Dictionaries

You might be hard-pressed to convince your children to read a dictionary from cover to cover, but give them a challenge like: "Find a new word that starts with 'r'" or "Find a word with 13 letters," and they will end up doing a lot of reading with a plain old dictionary.

 

7. Play Scripts

Reading scripts can spark your child's imagination about what it’s like to perform on stage or screen. You can even put on a play as a family after reading them together

 

8. Atlases

Atlases are packed with a wealth of reference information. Not only can your child map out a great adventure, but they can also read about land formations, population, and more.

 

9. Road Signs

Kids start recognising familiar signs at an early age. On road trips, play sign games to keep that knowledge of environmental print going.

 

10. Books They Write!

Nothing is as powerful as reading your child's own writing. Encourage your child to create stories, and their reading will also get a boost.