How to Help a Child Learn to Read

Teaching your children to read is essential for their academic success as well as their overall quality of life. Make reading a daily activity and your children will be reading sooner than you might think. Follow these steps.

Instructions

    • 1

      Read to your child at home and away from home. Read books, magazines, cereal boxes, store signs, billboards, road signs and marquees. Reading poems with rhyming words particularly help with memorization.

    • 2

      Find appropriate level books and books with large print. Choose books with repetitive phrases and numerous pictures that support the text. Have your child point to the words as you read.

    • 3

      Engage your child in the plot. Give your child time to discuss the plot. Have your child make predictions using text and pictures. Ask your child "how" and "why" questions that require higher level thinking.

    • 4

      Focus on identifying context clues, which support developing phonetic skills. Use the pictures or other surrounding words to aid in providing context clues instead of immediately telling the child what the word is.

    • 5

      Write at home. Writing is the reading process slowed down. Ask your child to write a message to you, contribute to the grocery list, write a short letter to a grandparent or write a thank you note.

    • 6

      Visit your local library. Most community libraries have established summer reading programs for children that are both entertaining and educational. Librarians can also suggest books at an appropriate reading level.

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