Newspapers also encourage reading for fun and information. And they broaden children’s understanding of local, national, and international issues.

But the newspaper habit doesn’t come naturally. Parents have to encourage interest in the newspaper by doing things like these:

• Help your child find out what interests him most in the newspaper. Explore the different parts together—including local news, editorials, comics, sports, advertisements, and special kids’ pages.

• Turn off the TV and read the newspaper as a family for 15 minutes every day.

• Find an interesting news story or comic strip, and cut the paragraphs or panels apart. Have your child read and arrange them in logical order.

• Ask your child to read a short editorial. Have her underline all facts with a blue pen and all opinions with red.

• Have your child pick a headline and turn it into a question. Then he can read the article to see whether the question is answered.

• Pick an interesting article from the newspaper. Then, while preparing dinner, tell your child you’re busy and ask him to read it to you.

• Ask your child to clip grocery store coupons of your favorite products. Then redeem them together later.

• Get your child to select a movie based on information she finds in the movie section.
  

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