Helping Young Readers

Building a Solid Reading Foundation

Would you like to build a solid reading foundation for your young child? Here are a few suggestions:

• Label things in the home such as the table, the refrigerator, doors, etc. Collect the labels and have your child put them back on the correct objects.
• While in the car, walking, or riding the bus, have your child look for and read familiar signs.
• Talk to children about what they like to do — their favorite games, pastimes, and books. Listen to your child's stories, accounts of events and ideas. Allow them to dictate the stories to you, and make a written collection to enjoy.
• Make plans for the day with your child. As children get older, plans can be written in a short schedule. The schedule can be used to search for familiar words and to learn new words.

Teaching Children to Understand Content

Do you want your child to be a successful reader with a love of books? As a parent, it’s important for you to talk to your children about the books and stories they enjoy.

For example, you can:

• Ask your child to predict what might happen next while reading a story. Be sure to ask your child to give reasons for the prediction.
• Ask your child why a character might have taken a specific action. Again, ask for reasons behind the answer.
• Ask your child to compare a book to another familiar book. How are the characters alike or different? Do the stories take place in similar places? How are the illustrations similar or different?
• Ask what part of the story your child liked best and why.
• Ask whether your child liked the ending of the story and why or why not.

Reading is more than decoding words. Help your child learn to think about the content of the material, not just the words.

Making Reading a Habit

Research shows that children who are read to in their early years are more successful in school.

Make reading a habit in your home, for both you and your child. Seeing parents enjoying a book is a strong image for children. Each night before bed, read to your child for at least 20 minutes. If the child is learning to read, ask him or her to read to you.

For older children, set 30 minutes aside each night for family reading time when everyone reads. Keep plenty of reading materials available — books, magazines and newspapers. Be sure the material is appealing, and not always another textbook. Let your kids see you reading and they're more likely to pick up the habit for themselves.

Connecting Reading and Writing

Want to help your child connect reading and writing? Here are some suggestions:

• Encourage your child to draw pictures about books or experiences. Drawing is a preparation for writing because it develops both the muscles needed for writing and children's ability to represent their ideas.
• Show your child how to write his or her name.
• Help your child compose a note to a relative or friend. Have your child dictate as you write. Read the note back to the child, pointing to the words as you read them. Some children might be able to find familiar words in the note.