This generation is filled with people with early exposure to the digital world.
About 53% of U.S. children aged 11 years old own mobile phones to connect with their friends via different social media platforms.
It is alarming that a growing number of children have poor reading comprehension, with as much as 10-15% of those aged 7 to 8 years old posting poor reading scores.
Given this data, it has become imperative to develop good reading habits. Here are a few ways to do this:
1. Learn How to Choose a Book
One of the main reasons people lose interest in reading is that they always choose the wrong books.
In general, people enter book stores and get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of books available.
If you are just getting back to the habit of reading again, start with easy reads that will hold your interest, and avoid anything too complicated for now.
If this is your first time picking up a novel, go for a detective book by Agatha Christie, which is filled with mysteries that can be quickly solved by children.
Robert Ludlum is a great writer, but the uninitiated can be lost in the quick turn of events and jumps from one storyline to another.
2. Get a Dictionary Ready
When you choose a book, the idea is that you can understand every word stated in it. While it is generally advised to know the meaning, you don’t have to rush to your dictionary every single time you encounter a foreign word.
You have to keep in mind that meanings are contextual. There may be times when you don’t know what a word means but understand the sentence that you read.
While reading a book, write down any difficult words you don’t understand, and browse their meanings later
It would also help if you can use the words in a sentence to understand them fully. If you can use it in quotes or anecdotes, all the better.
3. Start With Baby Steps
Reading isn’t a race. It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to finish a book; what’s important is you finish it.
One trick to help you is to read one page a day. Once you get the hang of it, you can increase it two pages, and so on.
Practice this for at least six months, and before the year ends, you may be a voracious reader already.
It also helps if you can visit a library conducive to reading. Schools like the American International University has a library that has a wide selection of books that you can choose from.
4. Relate to What You Read
Sometimes the best way to develop an interest in reading is to relate to what you are reading.
Often, the book tells a story of our past, our dreams, and our frustrations. If you can imbibe a few storylines into your life, it would be easier to feel with the author.
If you’ve been dreaming of working in the U.S., then a book about living in America would be a great start to your reading journey.
5. Share What You Learned
When you read an exciting book, it can help you read more if you can let others know about what you learned.
It gives you that boost of self-confidence to share, particularly about a novel topic that only a few know or understand.
Pick up a book and start reading. Any book will do as long as it interests you. Books are fountains of knowledge, don’t waste them by using them as a display on your bookshelf.
