Supporting Your Child's Reading
Ideas for Parents
1. Read aloud to your child. When you read books that are above your child's reading level, you model fluent reading and introduce new vocabulary. Try stories, poetry, recipes, letters, history, science, and other types of books.
- Read something different. Some children get discouraged with reading after just a few books. Expose your child to magazines, poetry, short stories, choose-your-own-adventure books, brochures, maps, letters, song lyrics, recipes
- As you read, once in a while make a mistake while you are reading and problem-solve with your child about how to figure out what would make more sense
- Talk about: interesting words, characters, themes, and exciting or favorite parts in books you read
- As you read together, ask your child to predict what might happen next or to talk about how the book relates to your child's life.
- Read the newspaper aloud. Start reading parts of newspaper articles aloud and encourage your child to do the same. Newspaper articles are great conversation starters.
- Encourage your child to read aloud a favorite book, poem, or story to friends, relatives or to younger children. Volunteer to read to the elderly.
2. Get involved in your child's reading.
- Listen to books on tape. This is a great idea for those long summer trips.
- Visit bookstores and libraries regularly.
- Get library cards for everyone in your family. Many libraries sponsor summer reading programs with prizes that encourage children to read.
- As your child asks questions, seek answers together at the library, in books, encyclopedias, in the newspaper, or on the computer.
- Read the same books.
- Pick out age and level appropriate books. If you're not sure, try the 5-finger method:
Ask the child to read any page in the book. Every time the child stumbles on a word, he/she puts up a finger. If all five fingers on one hand are up before the page is finished, the book may be too challenging. Try another selection or use the book for a read aloud.
- Read anywhere. Show your child that books are good companions and that reading is not just for school days. Bring a book wherever you go this summer and make sure to pack one for your child. Show your child it's fun to read in the car, at the beach, or in the park.
- Comb thrift stores and garage sales for books.
- Set up a neighborhood book exchange.
- Ask friends and relatives to give books as gifts.
- Subscribe to a magazine (like Sesame Street, Ranger Rick, and Sports Illustrated for Kids) and read it together.
- Keep a list or journal of books family members have read.
- Celebrate your child's growth in reading!
3. Make reading relative.
- Take advantage of the blockbusters, like The Lord of the Rings.
- Visit a comic shop.
- Visit a public library program for children or visit their children/teens web sites.
