Most children learn to read as a component of school education, but parents and caregivers are instrumental in the development of literacy in children. Reading Rockets, a nonprofit organization that supports childhood literacy, encourages caregivers to become actively involved in helping children learn to read and write. From early-childhood home education to supportive supplemental learning, caregivers are critical in enabling children's success in reading.
Step 1
Read to children early and often. The National Institute for Literacy notes that parents and caregivers provide the essential stepping-stones for reading before children are able to talk. When you read out loud to your child, you encourage him to develop a love of learning; out-loud reading can also help to expand a child's vocabulary and language skills.
Step 2
Incorporate phonics lessons into daily games and activities. Encourage children to pay with letter-printed blocks. Provide coloring-books and activity pages that include letters and concepts. Ask children to read signs, labels and book-titles within their abilities.
Step 3
Get involved with your local library and other organizations that support literacy. Many government and nonprofit organizations offer book clubs, reading lessons and peer support for children who are learning to read.
Step 4
Demonstrate language patterns like rhythm, rhyme and alliteration (even if you don't introduce these labels yet). For example, when you see a child putting blocks into a box, comment that the two words rhyme and begin with the same letter. Encourage children to list related words.
Step 5
Create games that include letters and sounds. Ask the child to participate interactively in guessing games with letters. You may ask a group of children to guess the name of the letter that says "eh" or find five items in a room that begin with the letter S.
Step 6
If a child seems to have unusual difficulty learning letters, sounds and linguistic concepts, contact a qualified health practitioner. A pediatrician or pathologist may want to evaluate the child for learning disabilities such as dyslexia, autism-spectrum disorders or attention deficit disorder.
Things You'll Need
- Children's books
