Your young child has conquered another milestone in his early life: reading! Teaching your child to read is one of the most rewarding opportunities a parent experiences. Reading is the cornerstone of education. When a child learns to read, the floodgates to learning begin to open. Reading has so many positive benefits including better vocabulary and writing skills, increased critical thinking skills, and acquiring new knowledge. It also gives children an all-around sense of wonder and imagination. We as parents are equally excited as our children when they begin to read. We want to continue to foster the love of reading but oftentimes it does not take priority. There are many other distractions that keep us busy and sometimes these distractions can compete with this important skill. Here are a few tips that might help your young reader to continue to LOVE this enjoyable pastime.
Keep Reading. Children need to exercise their newfound skill to create automaticity. Most children are not ready to read to learn until around fourth grade. They need to practice until it becomes automatic. Have them read to you and others often. Talk about the story and ask them questions. Some children love to practice reading while others find it boring or more of a challenge. If your child doesn’t enjoy reading, explore the reasons why and work to remedy the issue. Maybe he is not interested in his reading material or he would rather be outside playing. Find a topic he is interested in and allow him to read in a comfortable place (even if it’s outside). If you have a reluctant reader, he might need a trip to the optometrist for a vision check. Try to be diligent in addressing these issues so you can get them resolved early.
Turn off technology. This has become such a time-killer for adults and children. We tend to justify technology because there are educational videos and television programs that are entertaining and promote learning. We are given so much stimulation throughout our day; it is difficult to slow down. Just remember to use good moderation habits and ensure your child is still practicing his reading skills daily. When children do read, many times it is from a digital screen. There is nothing wrong with this, but remember moderation is the key. Studies have shown children comprehend specific questions much better with a printed text than a digital device. It is so beneficial for children to settle down with a good book and practice the more extensive reading they will experience with real books.
Read Aloud. Reading aloud with my children has been one of my all-time favorite things to do. It is very rewarding and enjoyable to become engrossed in a good book as a family. Listening and focusing skills are also developed during read-alouds. You can make it fun by being enthusiastic and using voice inflection. Talk about the book. Discuss vivid details that you or other family members notice. Visit landmarks from the book after you have finished it. Make certain recipes or food from your story. Point out the setting of the story on a map.
Have a variety of books available. When you have a wide variety of books on your shelf to choose from, your children can experience a broad range of writing. Vocabulary and writing style differs from each author, and it is important to expose them to an assortment of books (poetry, classics, adventure, historical fiction, autobiographies, etc.).
Visit the library often. The library was a weekly trip for my family when my children were young. Visiting the library frequently helps children pick from a plethora of books with a variety of genres. There are also regular storytelling times and other fun activities relating to books at the library. Going to the library often also shows your children reading is an important part of their lives.
Set the example. When your children see you read, they are more apt to pick up their own book to read. This becomes a normal event in your house instead of an occasional practice. As I stated earlier, there are so many other distractions that keep us from reading. If you make a habit of reading a little each day, chances are your children will also pick up this valuable habit.
We all desire for our children to become prolific readers. Reading is knowledge. It feeds our imagination, helps us communicate effectively, and creates lifelong success. By practicing a few of these beneficial details, hopefully your children will not only enjoy but grow to cherish all sorts of wonderful books and share this love with the next generation.
Gina
Books to Build Reading Practice (include some leveled readers)
Types of books to have available:
Favorite Read-Alouds:
