American mother reveals how to help her child quit TV addiction and become interested in books

Ms. Angela Zimmerman, living in San Francisco, USA, shared her experience in training her children to love reading.

When my daughter was 2 years old, I started exposing her to electronic devices such as television and tablets. She was immediately attracted to the colorful world that television brought.

Everything changed overnight, my daughter lost interest in books. The sweet moments when I read and she listened were a thing of the past. The animated cartoons on TV or computer were much more exciting for her.

At first, I thought everything was fine because she learned a lot through the TV screen, especially when I sat next to her and helped her interact more. The programs I chose were age-appropriate and helpful for her thinking. But then, I gradually realized that my daughter no longer had any interest in books, but instead in animated characters with voice-overs.

This really worries me. Because books are not only a joy for me but also a family tradition. My mother is the one who instilled in me a passion for each page of books and I also want my daughter to continue that tradition.

So I did a lot of research to find a solution to help books compete with the colorful, vibrant world on TV. In the end, I succeeded in rekindling my child's passion for books, after months of her only staring at the TV screen.

Create a daily reading habit

Every night before my daughter goes to bed, we read at least two books together, and often more. Reading before bed helps her relax and have a better, more restful sleep, especially on nights when she feels tired or uncomfortable.

I just turned the first page of the book, and immediately she became drowsy, put her fingers to her mouth, and slowly fell asleep.

Let your child choose his favorite book.

Your child will definitely have their favorite books and sometimes they will make you feel bored when reading the same story 200 times. However, do not be discouraged, indulging your child's interests will make reading much more comfortable and enjoyable.

Create a quiet and special space for reading

There was a time when I would read to my daughter next to her crib, but many nights she wouldn’t let me and would go to her room. Then we would read on the couch, interrupted by the sounds of basketball games, the neighbor’s dog barking, or sometimes the radio.

So I decided to create a separate space for reading: right on the bed in the living room. There are pillows, blankets, candles and books for my child to choose from.

Don't rush to ban your children from watching TV.

If you let your child use electronic devices such as TVs and tablets and find that he or she is too absorbed and forgets the world around him or her, don't panic and immediately ban them.

Media is still considered a good way to balance other activities for your child. The best thing to do is to plan for the frequency and time of TV viewing.

Give your child new choices

You should regularly take your child to the library to find out what genres of books and authors they like. The library is a treasure trove of books for your child to explore. You certainly don’t want to buy a book your child doesn’t like!

Printed books are still best

With the development of the times, we can read books on tablets, on phones. But there is nothing better than holding a book and turning the pages to read. Like my daughter, she loves books with pictures inside and really enjoys turning the pages.

Keep books everywhere in the house

I keep a few books in the car, or right next to her potty, and every night before bed she picks one to read. It may sound a little extreme, but it helps her connect with books anytime, anywhere. Studies have also shown that having more books at home helps children perform better in school.

Sometimes I have to lie to my children.

Sometimes my child insists on watching cartoons on TV, wanting to meet the characters Elsa and Anna from the movie Frozen. At that time, I often tell her: "The princesses have gone to bed". She immediately accepts that and does not protest or ask for anything more.

Even though I knew it was a blatant lie, I felt it was necessary, and ultimately for her own good. One day when she grows up, she will surely thank me for cultivating her passion for books.