Reading is a crucial skill in education – there are no two ways about it. The better a child can read, the better they will perform at school and throughout life. For those of you finding it a herculean task to teach your child to read, the following are some practical steps to make things easier.
1. Read aloud to your child
Reading with children shall never go out of fashion. Even as an infant, your child enjoys looking at pictures and responds to sounds. Starting at a young age, develop the habit of spending some time reading aloud stories to your child. You may increase the number of stories gradually once they get on board. If they ask for the same book or story every single time, be as animated as the first time and make it enjoyable. Other than developing cognitive, literary, sensory-motor skills, this could be a special bonding time that both of you cherish.
2. Lead by example
It is well known that children ‘ape’ their parents. Make the best use of it and let them imitate your best behaviours. When they see you spending a considerable amount of time reading, they will accept it as a part of life and get interested in reading. Take time out of your hectic schedule to show them reading as an interesting and worthwhile habit. Let them sit beside you while you read so that they will get more acquainted with it.
3. Identify, connect and learn
On your next trip to the supermarket, take your child along and help them read the labels. Likewise, familiarise them with common and proper nouns that they regularly see around. In this way, they will soon learn to link the words to their sounds and surroundings and you can include them in your everyday vocabulary.
4. Ask questions before, during and after reading
While you are reading together, ask your child questions about the stories. Before reading, ask questions like, “Can you predict the story from the pictures?” or “What is the cat wearing?”. During the reading, including questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “What does an elephant sound like?”. After reading, ask them if they liked the story or which character they liked the most. It is an interactive activity that builds their vocabulary and ensures that they comprehend what they are reading. Encourage them to use words from the text while answering.
5. Use rhymes and songs
Include rhyming books in your reading list and teach them nursery rhymes. At the stage where children enjoy rhyming songs, teach them strings of rhyming words which is a simpler way of learning their spellings. Phonetic awareness makes them predict the words, which is an important reading skill.
Bonus tips:
- Play using letter magnets to recall words and learn new ones.
- Write little messages and leave them around the house.
Happy reading!
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