Reading Tips
  • Be a Role Model to your children let them see you reading.
  • Children hear what reading sounds like and learn to recreate this as they read silently.
  • Children need to hear more than one person read to them such as mothers, fathers, older children, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, grandfathers, and other adult friends.
  • Look up topics that are of interest to your child such as space discoveries, sports, articles in the newspapers, or maybe your child will find a pen pal in another state or county to write to.
  • You can even record your child's favorite book on tape. If you travel or have to be away from home in the evening, your children will love to hear your voice as you read a beloved bedtime story. Be certain to add a few special words to your child at the end of your recorded story time.
  • Comics are a great way to interest children in reading. Many of the comics in the newspaper will appeal to children at various ages. If they don't understand the comics, talk about the meaning with them. As an extension activity, have children write their own captions for a particular comic or have children create a comic of their own and read it to you. Books with riddles, jokes or poetry are great for children. These books hold their interest while teaching reading skills at the same time. Shel Silverstein's poetry books appeal to children, make up some of your own poems, jokes, and riddles. You will enjoy your child's attempt to make up her/his own too.
  • Make up a list of items to find around the house and have a scavenger hunt. Set a time limit to make it more interesting. Have a treasure hunt by hiding a special treat or toy in your house. Then leave step-by-step written clues, leading to the treasure. You can either give the clues to your child one at a time or you can have each clue lead to the next clue and finally to the treasure.
  • Leave notes for your child. Ask relatives to send letters or e-mail messages for your child to read. Visit places of interest with your child such as the zoo, an airport, a toy store, or sporting event. Let your child read signs and displays, or have your child find seats at a large stadium.
  • Encourage your child to read the menu at restaurants and then place an order. At an ice cream shop, ask your child to read the list of different ice cream flavors.
  • Plan and make a meal for the family. You can even include a trip to the grocery store to purchase the necessary ingredients. Let your child look for some of the items on the list. Younger children can match the words on the list with the products. If you have coupons, let your child search for the particular brand.
  • Complete a craft project together. Select one that your child can do and will enjoy. Read the directions and gather the materials to complete it.
  • Encourage your soon-to-be reader without pressuring or pushing.
  • Playfully reinforce letter names and sounds. Play "I spy something that starts with a ‘p' sound..." or make a list of words together that begin with a ‘m' sound.
  • Go places and do things with your soon-to-be reader. Knowledge and experiences help children understand the word they'll soon be reading.
  • Have plenty of paper, crayons and pencils readily available for your children to use, and a place to display their pictures and writing.
  • Let your child gradually share some of the reading aloud. You read a sentence, paragraph or page, and then it's your child's turn. Take over if your beginner seems tired or discouraged so that reading continues to be enjoyable, not just hard work.
  • If your child can't sound out a word, suggest skipping it, reading the rest of the sentence, and deciding what word would make sense.
  • Leave notes for your child to discover and read on the refrigerator or in a lunch bag.
  • Take your new reader to the library to sign up for his or her own library card.
  • Read-aloud books with stronger plots and higher vocabulary.
  • Easy-to-read books your child can read alone.
  • Read a variety of genres, including nonfiction and poetry.
  • When your children read aloud, help them catch and correct their own mistakes by asking guiding questions. For example, you might ask, "Does that word really make sense here? What letter does it start with? What do you think it could be?"
  • Talk about the books you read together, and also about the books your children are reading on their own.
  • Don't stop reading aloud! Developing readers can read simple chapter books alone, but they still need you to help read the kinds of books that will challenge their thinking and build their vocabulary.
  • Suggest that your child read to a younger brother, sister or neighbor. It will be good practice, a chance to show off skills and an inspiration for the younger listener.
  • Continue reading aloud books that challenge your child's listening vocabulary and thinking skills. Reading books that are above your children's level will help them grow as readers.
  • Encourage your child's independent reading by providing a steady flow of books and conversation about them.
  • Help children who seem to lose interest in reading find the time to read at home for personal enjoyment. Check to see that their lives haven't become overly scheduled.
  • Help your children find more reasons to write. Enlist them in taking messages, making up the shopping list, writing letters, and answering e-mail.
  • Reading doesn't just happen it is a skill that must be nurtured from a child's earliest years. Once children know how to read, they still need gentle coaxing and support to reach their full potential as readers. Here are twelve tips for nurturing your growing readers:
  • Read with your children at least once every day.
  • Make sure they have plenty to read. Take them to the library regularly, and keep books and other reading materials in their reach.
  • Notice what interests each child then help them find books about those things.
  • Respect your children's choices. There's nothing wrong with science fiction if that's what keeps a young reader turning the pages.
  • Praise your children's efforts and newly acquired skills.
  • Help your children build a personal library. Children's books, new or used, make great gifts and appropriate rewards for reading. Designate a bookcase, shelf or box where your children can keep their books.
  • Check up on your child's progress. Listen to them read aloud, read what they write and ask teachers how they're doing in school.
  • Go places and do things with your children to build their background knowledge and vocabulary, and to give them a basis for understanding what they read.
  • Tell stories. It's a fun way to teach values, pass on family history and build your children's listening and thinking skills.
  • Be a reading role model. Let your children see you read, and share some interesting things with them that you have read about in books, newspapers or magazines.
  • Continue reading aloud to older children even after they have learned to read by themselves.
  • Encourage writing along with reading. Ask children to sign their artwork, add to your shopping list, take messages and make their own books and cards as gifts.
  • When you take your child to the library, check out a book for you. Then set a good example by reading yourself. Ask your child to get one of his/her books and join you while you read.
  • Families can read together, or they may join in a story told by the library storyteller. Some libraries also set up family activities around the readings for the week, including watching movies and making projects.
  • Computers can't replace the reading and writing activities mentioned above. But computers can support what these activities teach your child. Many computer programs offer activities that can both grab your child's interest and teach good lessons.
  • Many children enjoy TV, and they can learn from it. Keep in mind though that small children often imitate what they see, good or bad. It's up to you to decide how much TV and what kinds of shows your child watches.
  • Limit the time you let your child watch TV.
  • Some children may take longer to develop their language and reading skills. However no matter how long it takes most children can learn to read.
  • Encourage your child to read at least 15 minutes a day either by themselves or with you.