Reading Rockets, a nonprofit organization that supports childhood literacy, notes that many children struggle with reading and require help and input from their parents to excel. Parents play a critical role in enabling children to read fluently and independently. Shared reading, phonics games and everyday reading exercises supplement classroom education and help children learn to read more effectively.
Step 1
Read to your child frequently. According to the National Institute for Literacy, parents who read to their children during infancy and the toddler years help lay the foundation for literacy later in life.
Step 2
Find out what your child is reading or studying in school. Participate actively in class assignments and integrate school lessons in home life. For example, if your child's class is reading a picture book about insects, help him to write a short story about the ants in your kitchen.
Step 3
Involve phonics lessons in your child's daily life. If your child's teacher has indicated that she struggles with certain letters or sounds, show these letters to your child when you encounter them on road signs, menus and packages. Ask your child to sound out words that she sees outside a school setting.
Step 4
Play games that demonstrate language patterns like rhyme and alliteration. Ask your child to list words that begin with a certain sound; use them to create tongue-twister poem. Create a greeting-card for a friend or family member that uses rhyming words. Children often find these exercises enjoyable and educational.
Tips and Warnings
- If your child continues to struggle with reading, contact his primary health care provider. Consistent difficulty with reading may indicate a learning disorder, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, attention deficit disorder or Asperger's syndrome.
Things You'll Need
- Children's books
