Cultivating a love of reading and literature...
at camp and at home.
By Julie Hartley, Jan 2005
1. Read aloud together. Tell stories. Share stories. Make this a
family and
community activity.
At camp, our counsellors read aloud to campers at bed time. Even for the oldest teens, this is a special part of the day. Everyone gathers together in pajamas to hear stories and talk about them. Relaxing, stillness, contemplation and shared experiences are essential in today's hectic world.
2. Make quiet time for reading.
At camp, there are no TVs, computers or cell phones to distract from
the act
of reading. Campers tend to spend free time reading or talking
together. At
home, it's important to set aside a quiet time in each day for
reading and
discussing... all too often, technology crowds out these activities.
3. Celebrate stories and literature in the activities you share.
A family trip to the library or bookstore, or a discussion about a
book you
have read, helps to encourage young people to read. At camp, we have
theme
suppers and festivals based around books. In the last couple of
years camp
activities have celebrated 'Alice in Wonderland', 'Harry Potter',
'Lord of
the Rings' and the Narnia books, as well as folk stories and
mythology that
is at the root of so much literature.
4. Talk about books!
When parents, older siblings or camp counsellors talk together about
books
they have read, younger children are inspired to join in. Literature
is as
much a part of dorm discussions at camp as films or music. Our
Writing
programs all include shared reading, to widen the campers'
experience of
books. It is important to make young people aware of the benefits of
reading. Praise children when their vocabulary or topics of
discussion widen
because of their reading. Make sure they are aware of how they are
benefiting.
5. Set an example yourself
When children see parents and role models enjoying literature, they
are more
likely to read themselves. When books are prominent in the camp
cabin or the
family home, children are more predisposed to read them.
6. Ration the competition!
TV, MSN, surfing the web, chatting on a cell phone, listening to
music...
these activities often require less mental energy than reading a
book.
Setting aside quiet time each day encourages a child to read as
well.
7. Make the right books available
For 'reluctant readers' the right book is any book at all that the
child
expresses an interest in, or that promotes an interest they already
have.
Books about hockey. Fantasy. Computers. Whatever. If children
struggle with
their reading, it is important that the books presented to them are
simple
for them to read - or they may become discouraged. For more
sophisticated
readers, a challenge is essential. A bright teenager presented only
with
'books for young adults' may become as discouraged as a child
presented with
books too complex for them.
8. Play with words and enjoy them.
Word games are great for younger children. Any game or activity
which
promotes an appreciation of language is likely to lead to an
interest in
reading.
9. Enjoy related arts activities.
All of the arts are interconnected. A child who is introduced to
dance,
visits art galleries, plays an instrument or tackles a character on
the
stage is more likely to read as well... and the chances are, they
will have
more frames of references to bring to their reading, too.
10. Encourage a child to be inquisitive about the world...
... and to look for answers in books
Who discovered the earth was round? Which is the most lethal snake? Where is the best place in Canada to hunt for buried treasure? When a child asks questions, there's a great opportunity to encourage reading... and to allow them to discover for themselves the rewards.
By Julie Hartley
Director, Centauri Summer Arts Camp
Julie Hartley is one of the directors of Centauri Summer Arts Camp (www.centauriartscamp.com). Centauri is an overnight camp in the Niagara Region of Ontario, offering intensive arts training in 40 different arts specialties for youth aged 9-18. For permission to use this article in part or whole, please contact Julie at julie@centauriartscamp.com
www.centauriartscamp.com