Active Reading: How to Encourage Your Child to Read Analytically

Reading is one of the most important skills a child can learn. Not only does it help them develop a strong vocabulary and improve their grammar, but it also helps them think analytically.

a boy reading analytically — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Active Reading Exercises

Put Yourself in the Character’s Shoes

A simple exercise is to have your child explain how a character feels based on a picture or sentence. Then, you can ask them to put themselves in the character’s shoes. This type of thinking requires children to analyze the thoughts and attitudes of others, something that will come in handy in their everyday lives.

Be aware that there is not a single answer. People are full of contradictions! We can be happy and sad, scared and brave, all simultaneously. The important thing is that your child is thinking about the characters and their feelings.

See Both Sides to Every Issue

Another helpful skill is learning to see both sides of every issue. Help your child understand that there are always multiple interpretations of events, and everyone has their own opinion. Teach them to be open-minded and understanding, two essential qualities in today’s world. A great book to bring up this kind of discussion, at least one that I remember from childhood, is The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf, as told by Jon Scieszka. It is the story of the three little pigs from the wolf’s viewpoint. From this perspective, the three little pigs entirely misunderstood the wolf’s intentions.

The next time you read a book with your child, take the time to discuss the different points of view represented in the story, perhaps even the villain’s viewpoint, if there is one.

When we encourage our children to be active readers and analytical thinkers, we give them the tools they need to succeed in school and life.