Tips For Parents Of Children Learning To Read
Parents of children who are learning to read are always very concerned about how this learning process is evolving in their children, which is totally normal, considering that reading is one of the great skills we can acquire.
So, with that in mind, all the good advice you get about this pivotal moment in children’s lives is important. No matter what method your child is using to learn to read, these tips are universal and very helpful.
Parents of children who are learning to read should read often
It is important that, as a parent, you develop a routine that includes reading a book with your child in the morning or evening. You can start by reading aloud, but have the child participate by moving their finger over the text.
Thus, the child, although not yet able to read at the same speed as us, will feel part of the activity and will identify the letters more and more easily.
Have fun reading and let the child see and share the moment. Remember to set aside a family reading time where everyone feels close, each with their own book.
Sometimes it only takes half an hour a day. But read on! Only then will you create this habit in your child. This is much better than any targeted reading encouragement activity and the like.
The reading material must be interesting for the child.
If your child has a favorite topic, find a book full of vocabulary related to that topic to increase motivation. Look for readings that include your favorite subject, so take the opportunity to get him interested in the books.
Let the child choose their own book
When a person has the ability to make decisions, they can determine how their learning process will be created, so they are more likely to participate. Taking children to libraries or bookstores and encouraging them to explore books can be a wonderful activity for parents of children just learning to read.
Parents of children who are learning to read take their progress into account
As the child develops their reading skills, we want to increase the challenge of reading books, moving from materials that present one word per page to ones with longer and longer sentences, until reaching paragraph level.
If you are unsure whether or not a book is suitable for your child, to decide, try to count how many unfamiliar words to your child there are on each page.
Talk about what you see on the page
One activity you can also do is use books as a way to stimulate conversation about a topic. After reading, talk a little about what you read or, the next day, ask questions about what you read.
For example, you could keep a special journal with the child in which new words that appear with illustrations or drawings that are not written in the book are noted. That way, it will be easier to remember them because they will be connected by history and visually.
Parents of children who are learning to read should avoid comparisons
Each child learns to read at their own pace. Reading is a personal, individual experience in which the child begins to understand things for himself and learns more about how narrative works as he develops stronger skills.
Because of that, comparisons with your peers’ progress don’t help at all. They are unnecessary and don’t contribute. Every child has a learning pace. Thus, it is necessary to respect this rhythm and be aware of what is right for them.
don’t press
Forcing a child to read when he is not ready to do so can lead to negative reactions and do more harm than good. Pressure is always something that demotivates. An unmotivated child will not do an activity in a pleasant or fruitful way, or may not even want to do it again.
Talk to the child’s teacher
If you find that your child does not like to read and has problems with decoding or sight-reading, remember that this may be because of a child’s specific learning disability.
So, if you come across these situations, it’s best to first discuss with the child’s teacher what you think is going on. He is the person who can look at this professionally and even recommend an expert assessment.
In short, parents of children who are learning to read must, above all, read. Both with the child and without the child, make this activity part of the day-to-day of family life, encourage the choice of readings and avoid pressure.
By following these simple tips, you will be making a huge contribution to the acquisition of this vital skill in your child’s life.
