Many parents lament that reading has become a lost art in modern times. Thanks to modern technology, children have plenty of alternatives to reading, including television, video games and the Internet. Making sure that your children read well, however, can help them perform better in school and increase their confidence in their ability to communicate well. Parents can help children remain interested and excel in their reading abilities.
Have Your Children Read to You
Have your children select their favorite book and sit down to read with you at a specific time each evening. Make reading an important part of each day, whether after dinner or around the time your children go to sleep. Letting your children select the book they want to read is a good idea as it ensures that they enjoy the experience of reading (even if they always select the same book). If they are unable to pronounce a particular word, be patient as you help them sound it out.
Stock Your House With Reading Materials
Keep a wide variety of reading material available in your house. FamilyEducation.com reports that children who have a diverse assortment of books and magazines to choose from actually score higher on standardized tests. FamilyEducation.com recommends putting books and magazines in your bathrooms, bedrooms, cars, family rooms and next to your television.
Make Reading Part of Daily Life
FamilyEduation.com suggests having your children read signs on the road, menus, weather reports, game directions, movie listings and other daily living items. This will help motivate your children to try to understand the importance and applicability of being able to read well. It can also encourage them to naturally expand their vocabulary through encountering certain words regularly in daily life.
Be Aware of Reading Problems
Stay updated on your children's progress with their reading skills by keeping track of their report cards and standardized test results. Observe how well your children can sound out words, understand what they have read and use reading context to understand the meaning of new words. If it seems like your children have difficulty reading, get them help as soon as possible through tutoring or taking them to reading learning centers.
Use Reading Aids
Purchase computer programs, games, textbooks and books-on-tape to help your children improve their reading skills. Try to use games as much as you can, as these can make children look forward to and enjoy the process of improving their reading ability. Make sure you are enthusiastic toward your children's efforts in reading.
