Children who know how to read can look forward to a lifetime of learning and enjoyment. By being able to read and understand what is being read, individuals can teach themselves new information and can get their ideas across to others. Reading should begin early in childhood and it should be built on throughout the school years. These tips give parents a place to start.
Start with Phonics
Phonics is a special way of teaching reading by teaching children about sounds that letters make. Basic phonics typically starts with the sounds of the alphabet as well as short and long vowel sounds. It then builds on this knowledge by blending letters together for new sounds, such as by mixing consonants with vowels or mixing two or more consonants together. Once children can decode these new sounds, they are more able to read words that are built from these sounds. This method of reading is usually seen as preferable to sight-reading.
Practice Fun Reading
Learning to read should be fun. Children who are bored or frustrated with their learning may not be motivated to read. Not only should the books used to teach reaching be fun, but also parents should put a priority on regularly reading fun books to their children themselves.
Seek Early Interventions
Parents who notice that their children are struggling with reading or with the building blocks of reading, such as recognizing letters and speaking sounds correctly, should seek early interventions to build a good foundation for their children. Reading interventions help to challenge struggling readers and can help to improve word recognition, reading fluency and vocabulary knowledge.
You as the parent are best equipped to know how to help your struggling reader succeed. Successful ideas should be built around the child’s personality, likes, and dislikes. Sometimes, however, hiring a tutor or signing on to a reading intervention assessment and challenge program can be just what your child needs to help him or her discover the key to reading.
