A passport to a bright future: How to develop lifelong reading habits

Reading has astonishing benefits for children. 

From a young age, it provides comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, joy and fun. As a child grows, reading expands their vocabulary, develops communication and language skills, and feeds imaginations. Reading is also a passport to a thousand adventures, sparking passions that last a lifetime and enriching a young person’s understanding of the world.

The benefits of reading books, therefore, are many – and we cover some of these in this article. Our experts also offer some tips to help your child develop positive reading habits from an early age.

Why is reading important?

Research shows that reading has a huge impact on a child’s learning and development.

Children who read every day perform better in reading tests than those who do not. They also have better general knowledge and demonstrate a wider understanding of different cultures.
 
Good reading habits also enhance cognitive skills, including language acquisition, comprehension, and critical thinking. In fact, studies show that regular reading is more likely to determine whether a child does well at school than their social or economic background.

The benefits of reading books

• Reading opens your child’s eyes to different places, people, and global ideas.
• Reading ignites imaginations, encouraging creative thinking.
• Reading improves vocabulary and develops written and spoken communication skills.
• Reading builds confidence.
• Reading connects classmates and family through shared experiences.
• Reading improves focus, concentration, and memory by immersing your child in a single activity.

Reading is at the heart of a BVIS HCMC education

We love reading at BVIS HCMC. Our campus is full of inviting spaces and comfortable corners that give our students the opportunity to read both for pleasure and purpose. 

We also organise lots of different reading-focused projects throughout the year. These encourage reading habits and instil a lifelong love of books.

Initiatives include:

• Fun challenges that motivate our children to set and achieve both individual and collective reading goals. 
• Family events and activities that promote a culture of reading in school and at home.
• Digital reading platforms and e-books that make the most of the latest technology, inspiring our tech-savvy students to read in new ways.
• Online communities that enable discussion, debate, and book recommendations, fostering a sense of community based around reading.

How can I help my child develop great reading habits?

As a parent, you’ll play a big role in your child’s reading journey. You are their first and most important educator, which is why we emphasise the importance of great reading habits both in school and at home.

The key to encouraging reading habits in children is reading with them from a young age. By sharing a book together often, your child will discover the joy that reading can bring.

Eight top tips to encourage reading habits with younger children

1. Start early

You can start to raise a reader from the day your child is born. The importance of reading to your baby from birth, even for just a few minutes a day, cannot be underestimated, as it gives them the comfort of hearing your voice and increases their exposure to language.

2. Make reading a daily habit

Make reading part of your routine by sharing a book with your child before bedtime.

3. Read in front of your child

Whether you love books, magazines, or graphic novels, let your child see you reading. Children learn from what they see. If you’re excited about reading, your child is likely to pick up on your enthusiasm.

4. Create a reading space

Your reading space doesn’t have to be big or have a lot of bookshelves. It can be a corner of the sofa or a chair in the room where your child sleeps. Picking a comfy spot that has enough light and space to keep a few books will help your child connect reading with coziness and comfort.

5. Let your child choose what to read

Children are more likely to want to read something they pick themselves. To help narrow the choices, give your child a selection of books to choose from.

6. Find reading moments in everyday life

Reading isn’t just about sitting down with a good book. It’s part of daily life, too. As you go through your day, help your child keep an eye out for ‘reading moments’. They may be as simple as reading a recipe or restaurant menu.

7. Re-read favourite books

You might get tired of reading the same story over and over again, but your child may love it. Re-reading gives them a chance to connect the words on a page with the words they hear. Eventually, your child might start reading the book to you.

8. Learn a bit more about how children read

You may not be a teacher, but you’re still your child’s first educator. Knowing a little bit about what skills to expect at different ages can support your child’s reading.

For more information about how to enrol your child at our school, please get in touch with us at admissions@bvisvietnam.com / phone number +84 (28) 3758 8033.