Reading Japanese newspaper for kids is not a bad idea. Most of us start reading books, newspapers, magazines written for adults who are above JLPT N1. Reading and understating articles in these books, newspapers are next to impossible for students preparing for JLPT exam. This exercise demotivates many students, and they start doubting their preparation.
If our Japanese reading level is the same as Japanese kids, why not study like them? There are special newspapers for kids in Japan, and we can read these newspapers online out side Japan. Reading newspapers can help in increasing vocabulary, kanji identification and understanding grammar patterns. When we read our text books, we limit our self to same set of vocabulary, kanji and grammar patterns, but reading these newspapers can help you understand language in much easier way.
Starting with a single article is a good way to start the habit of reading newspaper.
Read the article slowly without any help
Make a note of new and unknown words
Make a note of new and unknown kanji
Lookup these words and kanji in dictionary
Again read the article 2-3 times
Save this article and word list with you and read whenever you get time
Don’t rush to finish the article, you are doing this exercise for yourself take your time understand the meaning of words. Understanding the article is more important than finishing the article. Repeating this exercise will help you to build a strong vocabulary and kanji. You can understand the context of words and grammar patterns.
Initially, this exercise looks boring, sad and very hard to continue. But believe me or not once you start this exercise and read good quality articles it will boost you confidence level. You will see an improvement in your vocabulary, kanji recognition. Not only that this exercised will prepare you for your future jobs as well, when you start your career you need to read lots of official, unofficial Japanese documents which look familiar to you after this exercise.
Some useful links:
