Tips for Parents

One of the most important things you can do for your child is to read with them.  Here are some ways to make it easier, more effective, and more fun!

Toddlers and Developing Readers

* Read! As often as you can, for as long as your child is having fun.

*Make books accessible.  Keep books in the playroom, next to the bed, by the couch, in the diaper bag.

*Rhyming is a very important prereading skill.  Sing songs, read fairy tales, recite poems.

*Develop reading skills early:  Have your child make a prediction before you turn the page. Make connections by pointing out similarities in the book to your child's own life.  Ask your child to tell the story in his or her own words.

*Play! Make up your own stories to go along with the pictures, do projects and puppet shows based on books, read in a silly voice.  It's not about getting from the first page to the last.  It's about having fun.

Older Readers

*Read together - it doesn't matter how you do it or how old your child is.  Just read.  You can take turns, you can listen to your child, they can listen to you.  You can also echo read (you read and they reread the same part) or choral read (read it aloud at the same time.)  The You Read to Me, I'll Read to You series are great books to read together at almost any age.

*Audiobooks are a great resource, especially for reluctant readers.  It's better if they follow along in the text while listening, but not necessary.  You can even download audiobooks free of charge from most library websites.

*Talk to your child about what they are reading.  The most important questions to ask are prediction and summary questions:  "What do you think the next chapter (or the next few pages) will be about?" and "Tell me what you just read in your own words."

*Nowadays so many books are made into movies that we need to use that to our advantage!  Maybe seeing the movie will motivate them to read the book or after reading the book they can compare it to the movie (we all know the book is always better!)

*Help your child choose the right books. One important question to ask is if they're interested in the book.   Kids will sometimes choose based on length or print size.  Another is if they can read and understand most of the words on the first few pages.  This should be more important than the book level when determining what to read.  

*Remember that reading practice comes in all forms.  Magazines, books, newpapers, internet articles, blogs, etc. all count.  In fact, most of the reading we do as adults is nonfiction so it's important to practice those skills too.

Happy Reading!

Images: AKARAKINGDOMS / FreeDigitalPhotos.net