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Helping Children Learn to Read

Posted Oct 13, 2006.

Early and continual parental involvement has great benefits for children. Parents help to stimulate their child’s development when they read, sing, and talk to their babies from birth. These are all key steps to early literacy. The earlier parents start the better.

When parents read to their children, they are paving the way to life-long learning skills. Parents’ love for reading has a clear affect on children's view of reading.

Parents should read to their child on a regular basis, everyday if possible. Consider the following tips:

Pick books that rhyme or are repetitive in nature. Nursery rhymes help children become familiar with traditional literature they will encounter in school. Consider using a theme.

Around ages 2–3, begin reading stories of animals, potty training; going to childcare, etc.

For preschoolers (ages 3–5), read books that help to prepare them for school, that teach lessons about diversity, about sharing, using manners, and other social skills.

Engage your child actively during story time. Be expressive, using different voices, sounds and gestures. Ask questions like: “What do you think will happen next?”, “Does this remind you of what we did or of other stories?”, or “Why do you think the little girl did that?” A parent’s involvement is critical to a preschooler’s development of reading comprehension skills.

Follow words with your finger as you read to your child. Point out words go from left to right, top to bottom, and front to back.

Take advantage of local library children’s story time. Be sure to expose your young child to a wide variety of activities that promote language development and reading skills. See also Nibbles “Learning about Letters and Words”

The New York Times Parent Guide to the Best Books for Children, 2000 by Eden Ross is a guide/resource for children’s books.

Once again remember:

• Read frequently
• Read some stories over and over
• Use voice animation and be expressive when you read
• Engage your child’s thinking.

Sources: Rothstein, Richard (2004). Harvard Forum. HGSE WGBH Forum. Closing the Achievement Gap.

University of California Cooperative Extension. (2006) Reading to Succeed Fact Sheet: Selecting Books for Young Children. http://ceplacer.ucdavis.edu/Custom%5FProgram833/

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