Does your child enjoy reading? Reading is one of the best ways to set your child up for academic success. According to a report from the United States, National Endowment for the Arts, children who read regularly score better on reading tests than infrequent readers.
Unfortunately, reading can sometimes be frustrating for young children and not all parents can find the time to read to their children. That being said, here are five ideas to help make reading a fun, engaging, and educational experience for your children.
Read a story every day
The more children are exposed to reading, the more it will become a part of their daily life. Even if it's just five to ten minutes, make an effort to devote a certain portion of the day for reading to your child.
Let them tell you a story
A great way to introduce kids to literature is to have them recount an experience or make up a story. Let their imagination run wild! Write the story as it is being recited by your child and then read it out loud. Point out words when you read to them and write them on cards to serve as a word bank so that they can use the cards to review later.
Choose books with rich illustrations
When choosing books for children, avoid choosing books with simple pictures and minimal text. These books don't start as many conversations, which are important to child development. Find books that excite your child’s imagination. Let them roam the picture book section of the local library and choose some books for themselves.
Encourage various reading activities
Reading doesn't strictly have to be sitting down with a book. Let your child read menus, road signs, food labels, and other everyday information. Try to make sure your child always has access to reading materials in their spare time.
Connect story plots to real life
If you're reading a book about a character doing a particular activity, talk to your child about a time they did that same activity with you. Asking open-ended questions and relating the book's plot to a real-life situation will help your child remember the book better and improve their vocabulary.
Encourage writing
Writing goes hand in hand with reading and vice-versa. Make sure to have pencils, markers, and papers available for your child to write. A great way to do this is to write little notes to your child and have them write back to you.
Let them choose reading materials
Let your child have a say in what they read instead of just handing them a book. This goes a long way in fostering a love for reading. Children who choose what they read are generally more engaged with reading and more likely to remember the information.
Give feedback
Showing interest in your child's reading has a significant effect on how much effort they will put into becoming good readers. Remember to praise them or give them a little reward for their efforts.
3 Bees Early Learning Centre is a child care centre in Oakleigh. Our early learning childcare program focuses on fun and exciting activities that encourage children to be effective learners and develop a love for lifelong learning, reading, and discovery. For more information, please feel free to call 03 9504 3668 or send us a message.