As a parent, you can help your child develop reading skills with enjoyable activities, some of which you might not have thought of as reading enrichment.
Easy Reading Strategies for Parents to Use at Home
How to Incorporate Reading Into Your Child’s Time at Home
When you practice reading skills with your child, it is important that you remember to keep your reading activities stress-free. Use mistakes as teachable moments. If your child gets tired of reading, take turns, or take a break. If your child wants more time, then allow that to happen. If your child becomes frustrated or has difficulty focusing, shorten the duration, and consider a shorter text or a lower reading level. Don’t worry about selecting a reading level that is too easy- your child will ask for more challenging material when he or she is ready. Establish a cozy and nurturing environment when reading. A bedtime snuggle or a mid-afternoon read on the porch swing are some ideas. Involve your child in planning your reading sessions, and enjoy your time together as you get ready for school and get ready to read.
Special Situations
If your child has a learning disability, you may need some more direction from your child’s teacher or from a learning specialist at school. Most reading strategies can help develop reading skills, but you also want to be sure that you target specific areas that your child needs to work on. Sometimes, it is difficult to know exactly what you should be doing at home. Your child may have trouble with basic reading skills, or with reading comprehension and may benefit from specially designed instruction. For example, a reading disorder such as dyslexia requires a different at-home approach than hyperlexia.
