You’ve always been one for escapism, all the way from the days of your early childhood into your mid-thirties. Whether it’s a series about teenage witches, a dramatisation of a folktale, or a revisit to good old Winnie The Pooh, you’ve always found happiness delving into the imaginary.

Now that you have a little boy, you’re keen to introduce him to the wondrous, faraway lands of fairy tales, and give his imagination as much fuel as you can. And so you’ve spent every night reading him fairytale after fairytale. However, in recent times you’ve started to think that you should be exposing him to other types of text. After all, you want him to learn about science and social studies, biographies, and other nonfiction written works, too.

Reading to your children is incredibly important. It’s one of the best ways to develop their minds from a young age, and help them develop a good vocabulary, a vivid imagination, and a good general knowledge of varying subjects.

So, we thought we would give you a little guidance on how you can help to give your child access to more varied texts, in fun, educational, and easy ways:

How can I help my child read more varied texts?

Books before bed

Reading is a wonderful way to help your child unwind and relax before they fall asleep for the night. But many parents will naturally just opt for fiction. Try mixing things up with a non-fiction choice, such as a book about history, science or other cultures. Also, always try to pick a book that is above your child’s current reading level, as this is the best way to give them access to more complicated vocabulary.

Visit a library

Visiting a library is a fun, easy, and cheap way to find more reading options for our child. In the library, you will easily be able to find lots of non-fiction choices which your child will benefit from. If you have any problems finding non-fiction choices which you deem appropriate, then ask the help of your local librarian.

Build your child’s interests

Building on your child’s interests is the best way to get them more interested in reading and inspire their sense of creativity. For example, if they love skateboarding, then find a skateboarding book. If they love dinosaurs, then find them a dinosaur book.

Don’t forget the web

Websites such as kids.gov have fantastic interactive games, videos and information about a wide variety of topics your child might be interested in. Also check out National Geographic Kids for more creative sources.

Subscribe to magazines

It may seem a little old-fashioned, but printed magazines are great for inspiring your little one. Whether they’re interested in sports, history, fashion, or gaming, there are many children’s magazines that will provide interesting content on a whole range of different subjects.

Encourage writing

Encouraging your child to write is a way to help them put into practice the skills they have learnt while reading. For example, have them write a letter to a grandparent detailing what they have learnt from a book they have just finished. Or, you could ask them to create an original children’s book for their younger siblings that teaches about a subject they are particularly interested in.

Watch informational television

Spending time as a family to watch informational television programs is another way to give your child access to interesting, educational sources. Whether you’re watching a series about ancient Egypt, animals in the amazon rainforest, or Indian cuisine, the opportunities for learning are endless.

Why should my child read more than just fairy tales?

Any time you want, says Unii. This shouldn't be a real concern.