10 Sure-fire Ways to Make Your Child a Good Reader

Studies have shown that the primary indicator of your child’s reading success is the number of hours you spend reading aloud to him or her. Even though schools teach reading and writing, the home is the first and best place for your child’s love of reading to grow.

Since reading is important to academic achievement, what are the best ways to ensure that your child becomes a good reader? What if you find that your child is not very interested in reading? Here is a list of ways to develop a knack for reading in your child and ultimately, help them become a more effective reader.

1. Choose a regular time to read to your children every day.

Begin to read to your child as a baby. Studies show that regularly reading out loud to children will produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words. Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the family reads together. By making it a family activity, you are also modeling the value you place on reading.

2. Make reading fun.

Go to the library and check out books together. Visit bookshops, glance through the different books within their age, allow them pick the ones they like. These activities paint the idea that reading is enjoyable.

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3. Make available variety of reading material to your children.

Children with a variety of reading materials in their homes score higher on standardized tests. Try books with CD’s, pop-up books, non-fiction books, and magazines for your child. Put the reading materials in cars, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and even by the TV.

4. Encourage a wide variety of reading activities.

Make reading an integral part of your children’s lives. Have them read Menus, Roadside Signs, Game directions, Weather Reports, Movie Time Listings, and other practical everyday information. Also, make sure they always have something to read in their spare time. This could be while waiting for appointments or riding in a car.

5. Get them familiar with the library.

Entice your children to read more by taking them to the library every few weeks to get new reading materials. The library also offers reading programs for children of all ages that may appeal to your children and further increase their interest in reading.

6. Be sensitive to your children’s reading progress.

Find out what reading skills they are expected to have at each grade level. The school’s curriculum will give you this information. Track their progress in acquiring basic reading skills on report cards and standardized tests.

7. Look for their reading challenges.

Teachers do not always detect children’s reading challenges until they’ve become serious. Find out if your children can sound out words, know sight words, use context to identify unknown words, and clearly understand what they read.

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8. Get help promptly for reading challenges.

Reading problems do not magically disappear with time. The earlier children receive help, the more likely they will become good readers. Make sure your children receive necessary help from teachers, tutors, or learning centers as soon as you discover a challenge.

9. Use a variety of aids to help your children.

To help your children improve their reading, use textbooks, computer programs, books-on-tape, and other materials available in stores. Games are especially good choices because they let children have fun as they work on their skills.

10. Show enthusiasm for your children’s reading.

Your reaction has a great influence on how hard they will try to become good readers. Be sure to give them genuine praise for their efforts.