How reading can help your child learn to think

When your child reads, they identify with the various characters they encounter. They imagine how the characters feel and try to understand their actions. Fictional characters can teach readers ways of being and acting, which can then be applied to daily life. Becoming immersed in stories also helps children develop empathy. Here are some questions to ask your child to foster this skill:

• Why do you think the character reacted the way they did?
• How do you think the character was feeling at that point in the story?
• How would you have reacted in that situation?
• In what ways is the character like you? How are you different?
• How do you think your favourite character would act in that situation?
• Etc.

There’s a significant advantage to reading about and reflecting on a fictional character. Your child will feel safe when answering questions and be able to discuss personal issues without feeling threatened.

Reading also develops another essential cognitive skill: memory! To understand the sequence of a plot or identify the culprit in a detective story, readers have to remember all the details and understand how they fit together. There are several tricks for improving memory when reading:

• Make a story timeline
• Make a concept map of the characters
• Take notes while reading (e.g., on a sticky note)
• Read a book in two different languages (to learn a new language)
• Make a list of new vocabulary words encountered when reading
• Before starting a new chapter, summarize what happened in the previous one
• Etc.

Was the book your child borrowed from the library a big disappointment? Why not take the opportunity to help them practise formulating an argument? Discussing the strengths and weaknesses of a book is a great way to learn how to share your opinion and develop critical thinking skills. This exercise also helps your child prepare for writing an argumentative text, a key academic skill. Here are a few activities to suggest to your child:

• Compare a book to its film adaptation
• Name three strengths and three weaknesses of a book (e.g., the characters are well defined, but the story lacks originality)
• Start a mini book club with friends
• Rate a book on a scale of 1 to 10 and explain your reasoning
• Etc.

Novels and picture books provide access to realities that would otherwise remain unknown. Whether through discovering the work of a foreign author or getting lost in a story from another time period, reading enables children to explore new places and horizons. Here’s how you can use this unique experience to engage your child’s cognitive skills:

• Encourage curiosity by suggesting reading themes (e.g., this week, let’s read books about science)
• Discuss differences and tolerance by reading works from other countries
• Introduce your child to the issue of inequality (e.g., suggest that your elementary or high school student read about racism)
• Develop their open-mindedness by exploring new literary styles or issues they’re unfamiliar with
• Etc.

Most books contain morals that can help shape your child’s personality and values. For instance, reading a picture or comic book might spark an interest in philosophy! Here are a few easy tips for helping your child get the most out of reading:

• Ask your child what they remember when they finish reading a book
• Suggest finding similarities and differences between a book and reality
• Examine notions of right and wrong with simple questions (e.g., Do you think this character did the right thing by stealing this object?)
• Explore unusual scenarios through fantasy or science fiction (e.g., If we could live on the moon, would you do it? Why?)
• Etc.