how to encourage kids to read books than to watch tv?

I've always had a love of books and reading and that's something I wanted to be sure to pass on to my kids. So I made a point to start reading to them very early--even when they tiny, tiny babies. I let them go from only wanting to eat the books rather than listen to them, to enjoying flipping pages more than listening to what was written on them, to finally sitting long enough to actually*hear* the story and look at the pictures. After setting the foundation for an interest in books, I just made sure that there was a great variety (and gianormous quantity!) of books in the home library that they could have access to any time they wanted. I leave a pretty good number of books out so they can grab one whenever they want. Periodically, I take some of the books out of the mix and put 'new' ones (books they've read before but have been stored so there aren't *too* many out at one time) in so there's something different so they don't tire of the old ones. I've never really given the kids to option to watch the telly instead of reading or doing other things, so they haven't been programmed to think they can sit for hours on end watching one show after another. Videos are seldom watched around here; to be honest, they only watch one every couple of months. They very rarely ask (and never beg) to watch something on the telly, something for which I am very thankful. I think the biggest thing is that I started early on limiting how much exposure they got to the telly and videos. I just figured if I didn't introduce the bad habit to them in the first place, they wouldn't become reliant on it as a form of entertainment. Some of the great benefits I see in limiting telly time is how their creativity and imaginations have blossomed and how easy it is for them to self-entertain. If your kids are already to a point where they like or want to watch the telly endlessly, it may be a somewhat difficult transition to get them away from it. You will probably have to wean them off it slowly rather than going cold turkey. You may also have to ummm, fudge the truth a tad and tell them that after the telly's been on too long, it overheats and won't work any more. Then, pull the plug so it won't turn on when they push the buttons. Just be persistent and it will pay off in the end. Oh, but I should say that there is a chance that not all of your kids will be voracious readers. But if you can at least get them to *like* reading, that's a big step in the right direction. Best wishes! :-)

It is amazing how opposite my two girls are. My 14-year-old started off with Goosebumps awhile back, moved on to the Mary-Kate and Ashley books and now she is so into the "Clique" series of books along with some others. She is a closet reader because it is not cool at school. She reads a lot at home. My 11-year-old will do everything to NOT read. She has found a couple of series she likes so I try and keep her stocked up either by purchasing the books (used of course) or getting them at the library. Because the teachers have insisted throughout the years, I tell her she has to read for 10 minutes before she goes to sleep. Sometimes she will look at a magazine and call that "reading". Geesh! I read to both my girls as they were growing up so I don't think that is it. I think my 11-year-old is more of a tomboy, prefers Gameboy to reading, and is basically a little on the lazy side.

As some have said early, I would read to them before bedtime or whenever I could. My mother did that to me when I was younger and I'd continue to ask for books even after she said enough is enough. I'd hope to try and read to them even when they're really really small in hopes of getting them into books. It worked for me, hopefully it'll work for them.

What I've always done is read to my kids before bedtime as often as I could. It helps if you can do character voices to go along with the story. For instance, when I read a Chet Gecko book, I try to have a "hard-boiled detective" kind of voice. If it's a Hank the Cowdog book, most of the characters will have a Texas drawl to their voices. Try it. It's fun, and it stretches your own creativity as well. Eventually, the kids will probably be begging for books they can read.

Simple- always read to your kids from a young age. When they get old enough to read on their own then turn the TV off and put them in their room before bed with no TV and make them read a book or sit them on the couch- set up reading time and make it an every day thing. My daughter after a couple times just would automatically grab a book and start to read before bed. Just say no to TV after a certain time.