There is no such thing as “starting too early” when teaching reading to children. It has been said that learning how to read stars even before a child can utter their first words. There is so much that can be done at home to help children learn to read well.
Teachers can do the formal teaching in schools, but at home, parents and caregivers can help by creating an environment that is conducive to reading, where a child can develop his or her love of reading. This is important because reading as a subject is challenging for both the teacher to teach and for students to learn. It’s not uncommon for students to have a negative perception of reading. Part of this resistance because children do not develop an interest in reading early on.
Below are some tips on how to help boost a child’s reading skills.
1. Read to infants and young children –reading to infants helps them build reading and communication skills. Even if the words don’t make sense to the child when adults read to them at that age, they will likely develop positive feelings towards the experience of reading and communicating.
2. Daily reading habit – set aside at least thirty (30) minutes of one-on-one reading time with your child. Change your voice, get into character and ask the child what he or she thought about the story! Not only will this be a good bonding experience, but it will also encourage the child to form that habit of reading every day. Invite other family members to read to the child and with the child. In this way, other family members can also enjoy the benefit of having a learning and bonding activity with the child.
3. Field trips – take reading outside of the four walls of your child’s room. Schedule a trip to the library or the local bookstore. Let your child pick the books that they want to read. This will open their eyes to the different types of books and explore the different genres. Let this experience pique their curiosity about the books that they may not have at home.
4. Reach out to volunteers and specialists – when it comes to reading concerns, it is always best to identify possible delays and to have your child receive the proper intervention as soon as possible. Do some research about the age-appropriate reading milestones, and if you have any concerns or questions about your child’s reading level, consult a specialist and do not rely on what you find on the internet.
5. Engage in conversation – ask your child about their favorite part of the story they read and what they did not like about it, ask them how their day went and who they hung out with. Reading is just one of the components of communication that children need to master. Engaging in conversation with your child will help them develop and become comfortable with communicating coherently.
Final Thoughts
Reading is such an essential skill for everyone to have. Many articles and stories are constantly shared among parents and reading specialists that emphasize ways to help children become good readers, especially during their younger years. It takes the effort of professionals and people at home to help boost a child’s reading skills.
