How to Develop Reading Habits in Students

Dr. Mohammad Nasir
University Librarian & HoD
Mohammad.nasir@kalingauniversity.ac.in, 8433136620

Reading is a crucial skill that kids need to acquire to achieve success. It is not merely an essential professional skill; it is also a means to appreciate creative, instructive, and inspirational literature that enhances our life. Reading constitutes an essential component of education, but, unfortunately, the majority of youngsters today prefer to engage with mobile phones, play video games, or watch television instead of reading books (SGS_Admin, 2023). The principal reason is that contemporary parents devote minimal to no attention to enhancing their children’s reading habits. However, corresponding to any other skill, fostering a reading habit needs time and effort, and we, as educators and parents, have a responsibility to assist children in developing these habits (Root, 2023). The youngster must hear the language in order to comprehend it, just like with their mother tongue. There are some interesting ways to enhance students’ reading habits. The library has played an essential role in establishing a reading habit in students (H, 2024).
Allow for Reading Essentials: It resembles the experience of encountering a novel language through narratives, with pictures facilitating comprehension of both the written and spoken forms.
Self-Study: Students who read independently on a regular basis develop their writing, vocabulary, sentence structure, and creativity, and they are better equipped to comprehend other subjects.
Read with Pet: Engaging in reading with an impartial partner instills confidence in the student and enhances their sense of significance.
Prefer Printed Books: Instead of starting with digital books, always start with printed ones. As they develop, they might experiment with different media. Students will want to read to pass the time if they are not distracted by television or iPads.
Library Tour: The library offers complimentary access to new authors and books. Moreover, numerous libraries provide story sessions or various literacy programs. Library visits allow students the chance to cultivate healthy reading habits while observing peers engaged in similar activities.
Facilitate Good Library Atmosphere: Establishing a positive environment is a dynamic facility that influences everyone to form reading habits. Therefore, one of the main responsibilities of library employees is to establish a quiet and comfortable reading environment. It might encourage students to read in the library.
The reading habit should be nurtured to become a valued asset in maturity, serving as a means to acquire ongoing information, while books also serve as companions for pleasure and recreation (Monteiro, 2023).

H, N. L. (2024). Promoting reading habits among the users by the libraries: An overview. IP Indian Journal of Library Science and Information Technology, 9(1), 56–59. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijlsit.2024.009
Monteiro, S. (2023). Interesting ways to develop good reading habits in children. Best Ways to Develop Good Reading Habits in Children. Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.jbcnschool.edu.in/blog/good-reading-habits/
Root. (2023, December 28). How to develop reading habits in students? Nalanda International School. https://nalandaschool.org/how-to-develop-reading-habits-in-students/
SGS_Admin. (2023, June 26). 8 Tips to Develop Good reading Habits in students. Sristi Global School. https://sristiglobalschool.com/2023/01/12/8-tips-to-develop-good-reading-habits-in-students/