Celebrate National Reading Month by setting new goals

March is National Reading Month, and what better way to celebrate than to start a new book or set a new reading goal? Reading is fundamental to a person’s development of literacy and comprehension skills, and introducing children to books and reading at a young age can help instill confidence in reading and writing habits as well as develop their oral language development, phonological awareness and print awareness, according to an article from Indiana University. “I think decoding is the number one reason that kids and teens need to develop good reading habits,” Christopher Hogsett, regional branch manager for Indianapolis Public Library Pike Branch, said. “There are inferences and things that take place while reading. I think it’s just important for skill so that when they go off into the adult world, it makes it easier for them to not only decode what they’re reading, it makes it easier to decode other people.” Some of the benefits to starting a reading routine at an early age include preparing children for academic success, Hogsett said. Reading with a parent or guardian either 20 minutes per day or before bedtime helps develop a bond with the child, increases concentration and discipline, improves...