Good reading skills are vital for children to perform well academically and move into satisfying careers. According to the Child Development Institute, nearly 45 percent of children in the United States in the fourth grade do not read up to standards for their age. Poor reading skills can lead to behavior problems, low self-esteem, poor grades and stress-related illnesses. Parents must assist teachers in helping their children learn to read and comprehend what they read to compete in the age of information.
Step 1
Talk to babies constantly, even before they can respond. According to the U.S. Department of Education, children who are spoken to learn how to talk earlier and through the listening process develop an intuition about how to make sense of words and sentences, a skill that translates effectively to reading comprehension.
Step 2
Read to children and discuss the content of the books in order to build enthusiasm for the written word. According to the Child Development Institute, when children realize that writing is another form of communication, they become more motivated to learn the skill.
Step 3
Buy books as presents for children and teach them that books are valuable possessions. Purchase books that tap into interests your child has already expressed. Set up a special reading corner in your child's room with a comfortable chair and reading lamp.
Step 4
Discuss the books you read to further expand your child's comprehension. Talk to him about his own experiences and how they might relate to a story. According to the Michigan Department of Education, parents should encourage children to talk about their experiences and listen intently to instill a sense of importance to the process of communication.
Step 5
Bring your child to the library and help her get her own library book. Make an outing of the experience and allow her to check books out regularly as well as spend time reading at the library. Attend reading programs at your local library to show kids how reading also can include social activities. Join book discussion groups for kids to challenge their comprehension and views about various books.
Tips and Warnings
- Children learn from example and tend to model the behaviors they see at home. Provide your children with an environment that includes time for reading. Let them see you read in your leisure time.
- According to the Child Development Institute, children in the United States typically are not taught phonics in school, a method that has proven to be an effective means of teaching reading skills. To make up for the slack, parents should incorporate phonics in their reading playtime with children. Teach kids how to form sounds and then illustrate how those sounds look when letters are put together.
Things You'll Need
- Children's books
- Reading corner
- Library card
