Reading Tips

Read me a story! Whether snuggled under the covers with peanut-butter sandwiches, or following along with a book on tape while on a road trip, reading together is a powerful tool in motivating your child to read.

 

Keep it fun, for everyone. Keep your kids involved by asking questions about the story, and let them fill in the blanks. You can also create activities related to the stories you're reading.

 

“Look at what I did!” Keeping a chart or graph that illustrates the number of books a child has read can bring a sense of accomplishment.

 

Spice up your reading log. Choose a theme that goes along with your child's interests, for example: a Reading Olympics, where the child “goes for the gold” by reading a certain number of books.

 

Spice up your reading log. Create a bingo card or passport where each space can be filled in by reading a mystery book, or a piece of non-fiction.

 

“I want that one!” Reading should be a choice, not a chore. Make sure there are a variety of books, magazines, and other materials available for your child to choose from.

 

Something to talk about. Reading doesn’t have to stop when you put the book down. Talk to your child about books you’ve read and books you think he or she might enjoy.

 

Write a fan letter. If your child has a favorite author, help your child write a letter to send to the publisher, who’ll send it along.

 

Start a book club. If your child likes structure and doing everything with friends, consider joining or starting a parent/child book club.

 

Make time for reading. Carve time out of the busy day and dedicate it to reading, both together and on your own.

 

Encourage your child to read another one. Find ways to encourage your child to keep reading. If he or she likes one book, find another book with a similar subject or by the same author.

 

Take turns reading. Once your child can read, have him or her read aloud to you every day. You can take turns – you read one page and your child the next.

 

Turn on the closed captioning on your TV. When watching a TV show with your child, try turning on the closed captioning channel. This shows the words the characters are speaking on the television screen.

 

Find reasons for your child to write. As your child gets more comfortable with writing, try to think of reasons to write – ask him or her to write the grocery list, thank-you notes, or birthday cards.

 

Don’t worry about spelling mistakes. When your child is first learning to write, it doesn't matter if he or she makes spelling mistakes.

 

Make a writing kit. Find a box or basket and fill it with paper, crayons, books, pens, and pencils. Have your child add things to the box.

 

Use a children’s dictionary. Show your child how to use it to look up the meaning of words.

 

Hear the words. If you have access to the Internet, show your child how to find a talking dictionary to hear how a word is pronounced (in English).

 

Tell stories. Tell your child a story you already know – or just make one up! It could be a folk tale, stories about your family, funny stories, or any story you both like.

 

Talk about books. Retell exciting stories at the dinner table. Encourage your child to share his favorite parts.

 

Write for a purpose. As you're writing your grocery list or a thank you note, share your work with your child. Don't be surprised if she asks to borrow the pencil!

 

Talk about punctuation. Explain that punctuation is a way to show how we talk. You can say, for example, "When we talk, we usually pause a little bit at the end of a sentence. The way we show this in writing is to use a period."

 

Play with your child's name. Play around with the sounds in your child's name. Ask him or her to say words that begin with the same sound – like José, jugar, jabón.

 

Say tongue twisters. Tongue twisters are a fun way to practice sounds.

Let your child tell you the story. Many children memorize stories they've heard many times. Let your child take a turn "reading" the book to you.

 

Read it again and again. Your child may want to hear a favorite story over and over. Go ahead and read the same book for the 100th time! This is beneficial for your child.

 

Don’t leave home without it. Bring along a book or magazine any time your child has to wait, such as at a doctor’s office. Always try to fit in reading!

 

Once is not enough. Encourage your child to re-read favorite books and poems. Re-reading helps kids read more quickly and accurately.

 

Dig deeper into the story. Ask your child questions about the story you've just read. Say something like, “Why do you think Clifford did that?”

 

Take control of the television. It’s difficult for reading to compete with TV and video games. Encourage reading as a free-time activity.

 

Be patient. When your child is trying to sound out an unfamiliar word, give him or her time to do so. Remind your child to look closely at the first letter or letters of the word.

 

Pick books that are at the right level. Help your child pick books that are not too difficult. The aim is to give your child lots of successful reading experiences.

 

Play word games. Have your child sound out the word as you change it from mat to fat to sat;from sat to sag to sap; and from sap to sip.

 

I read to you, you read to me. Take turns reading aloud at bedtime. Kids enjoy this special time with their parents.

 

Gently correct your young reader. When your child makes a mistake, gently point out the letters he or she overlooked or read incorrectly. Many beginning readers will guess wildly at a word based on its first letter.

 

Talk, talk, talk! Talk with your child every day about school and things going on around the house. Sprinkle some interesting words into the conversation, and build on words you’ve talked about in the past.

 

Write, write, write! Ask your child to help you write out the grocery list, a thank you note to Grandma, or to keep a journal of special things that happen at home.