{10 Quick Tips for Helping Your Child Learn to Read|Insider Hints that Make Teaching Reading at Home

Ten Insider Tips for Teaching Your Child to Read

The following are ten tips that have helped dozens of families in our community to recognize when they are on the right path for helping their children prepare for reading success. Children who acquire the tools and the opportunities to learn to read both at school and at home have a better chance of success than other children. A great deal of a child's reading success depends on the level of support that she or he receives at home.

#1: Let Children Explore Books Alone

Supervision is important, but there is often a very fine line between great parenting and becoming over-controlling. Parents may let their child select the book, but then completely take over from there. Every child should be given the time to explore a book before and/or after they read it with a parent or other adult. It's a good idea to not rush into reading, but to encourage exploration first.

#2: Show Enthusiasm for the Child's Abilities

Children often need to be convinced that they can accomplish things. But when children become discouraged, it is often a parent's belief in his or her abilities that helps the child through rough terrain. On the other hand, parental displays of a lack of confidence can often backfire, making the child question his or her abilities.

#3: Read with and to Children Regularly

Reading at home with children is one of the best ways to ensure that they are ready for reading. It also sends the message that reading is enjoyable and fun. Parents should read with their children at least five times a week.

#4: Encourage Children to Read to Others

Parents should encourage their children to read to them often. Parents are built-in audiences for young readers. Older siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and neighbors are also great audiences.

#5: Have Realistic Expectations

Children learn to read at different paces and they begin to learn to read at different ages. Parents have been reading for so long that they have understandably forgotten how long it took them to learn to read. Parents need to be sure to accommodate different learning styles to avoid rushing a child into reading or expecting too much from a struggling reader.

#6: Provide Appropriate Reading Materials

Homeschool teachers and parents should work to develop a plan to ensure that their young readers have a wealth of age-appropriate reading material. Be sure to equip the house with books that may interest the child. Time should be allowed for taking the child for visits to the local library. Encourage children to select their own library books and participate in the library's story time.

#7: Avoid Rushing a Reading Session

Children should not feel rushed during a reading session. And, parents should avoid feeling conflicted between spending time reading with children and getting something else done. Schedule time for reading when nothing else will interfere.

#8: Ensure Ample Opportunities For Reading and Writing

Opportunities for reading and writing development abound in the everyday environment of the child. Encourage children to read and write by enlisting them to help develop a grocery list or in sharing correspondence from friends and family members. Parents can also help teach children to learn to write by helping them write their own name on letters to friends and relatives.


#9: Avoid Showing Signs of Worry About the Child's Progress

Teachers and parents may have good reason to be concerned about a child's reading progress, but they should avoid discussing this with the child or even in the child's presence, which may only serve to compound the problems.

#10: Address Problems As Soon As They Arise

Any kid exhibiting trouble reading may well have other issues that need attention. Such a child showing signs of trouble might have a learning disorder, poor vision or hearing issues. Teachers need to be vigilant enough to attend to these matters as early as possible, but at the same time, they shouldn't be so obsessed that they create problems where none previously existed.