Learning to Read ? Helping Your Child Get Started
Learning to Read ? Helping Your Child Get Started
Does your child listen closely during story time? Does your child
like to
look through books and magazines? Does your child like learning the
names
of letters? If the answer is "yes" to any of these questions, your
child
may have already learned some important early reading skills and may
be
ready to learn some of the basics of reading. Learning to read
happens
gradually and it’s important to support your child and foster
interest
along the way.
The following are a few tips to keep in mind as your child learns to
read:
Set aside time every day to read together. Many children like to have
stories read to them at bedtime. This is a great way to wind down
after a
busy day and get ready for sleep.
Leave books in your child’s room for her to enjoy on her own. Make
sure her
room is reading-friendly with a comfortable bed or chair, bookshelf
and
reading lamp.
Read books that your child enjoys. After a while, your child may
learn the
words to her favorite book. When this happens, let your child
complete the
sentences or take turns reciting the words.
Do not drill your child on letters, numbers, colors, shapes or words.
Instead, make a game out of it and find ways to encourage your
child’s
curiosity and interests.
Reading books aloud is one of the best ways you can help your child
learn
to read. This can be fun for you, too. The more excitement you show
when
you read a book, the more your child will enjoy it. The most
important
thing to remember is to let your child set her own pace and have fun
at
whatever she is doing. Do the following when reading to your child:
Run your finger under the words as you read to show your child that
the
print carries the story.
Use funny voices and animal noises. Do not be afraid to ham it up!
This
will help your child get excited about the story.
Stop to look at the pictures; ask your child to name things she sees
in the
pictures. Talk about how the pictures relate to the story.
Invite your child to join in whenever there is a repeated phrase in
the
text.
Show your child how events in the book are similar to events in your
child’s life.
If your child asks a question, stop and answer it. The book may help
your
child express her thoughts and solve her own problems.
Keep reading to your child even after she learns to read. A child can
listen and understand more difficult stories than she can read on
her own.
Once your child begins to read, have him read out loud. This can
help build
your child’s confidence in his ability to read and help him enjoy
learning
new skills. Take turns reading with your child to model more advanced
reading skills.
If your child asks for help with a word, give it right away so that
he does
not lose the meaning of the story. Do not force your child to sound
out the
word. On the other hand, if your child wants to sound out a word, do
not
stop him.
If your child substitutes one word for another while reading, see if
it
makes sense. If your child uses the word "dog" instead of "pup," for
example, the meaning is the same. Do not stop the reading to correct
him.
If your child uses a word that makes no sense (such as "road"
for "read"),
ask him to read the sentence again because you are not sure you
understand
what has just been read. Recognize your child’s energy limits. Stop
each
session at or before the earliest signs of fatigue or frustration.
Most of all, make sure you give your child lots of praise! You are
your
child’s first and most important teacher. The praise and support you
give
your child as he learns to read will help him enjoy reading and
learning
even more
dari www.aap.org
