This month is I Love to Read Month, a time to emphasize the benefits that can come from reading and to encourage people to develop a passion for doing so.

Reading not only can increase your knowledge, but it can also help reduce stress, improve your vocabulary and writing skills and keep your brain strong.

The National Education Association offers these tips to encourage your children to read:

• Visit your local library often. Get your children their own library cards, and check out some of the activities taking place there.

• Let your child see you reading, whether it’s the newspaper, a magazine or a book.

• Encourage older children to read to their younger brothers and sisters, or have the whole family set aside some time to read together.

• Show your child how people use reading all the time, whether through reading street signs, maps, billboards, menus or labels on packages.

• Create a library for your child of new or used books.

• Subscribe to a children’s magazine, and read it together each month.

• Take turns visiting the Little Free Libraries in town.

Want to read more but can’t find time as an adult? Consider these tips:

• Leave a book beside your bed. Keeping books out will prompt you to pick them up.

• Swap your phone for a book. In the habit of going on social media on your phone before you go to bed? Switch that up by instead reading for 10 or 15 minutes before bedtime. You’ll probably sleep better, too.

• Join a book club. These not only give you an excuse to schedule in some reading time, but are good for socialization, too.

• Bring a book to work and pull it out on your lunch break.

Whether you’re a child or an adult, the benefits for reading are endless.

We hope you take the time to spread the joy that can come along with reading this month.