Reading is a fundamental skill for children. Once a child is in third grade or above, she is no longer learning to read; instead, she is reading to learn. As a result, strong reading skills are critical to school success. If reading is a struggle, a child begins to turn away from reading, making school more challenging. Getting your child to read more helps her with schoolwork and unlocks her imagination to develop a love of reading that lasts her whole life.
Step 1
Make reading a priority. The Michigan State Department of Education notes traits of successful students. Focusing on reading and discussing books is one of the clear characteristics in families of successful students. In addition, listening to your child read as your child develops his reading skills encourages mastery of the language. Reading is Fundamental, an organization that promotes literacy, notes that children should read 20 minutes every day.
Step 2
Don't criticize. With young children, the child may be hypersensitive to mistakes made when trying new words. Silence is truly golden for these kids. Sit quietly with your child as she's reading aloud to you and let her work it out. Help her when she asks for help by having her sound out the word, using the picture to help deduce the correct word, asking her what word might make the most sense, or just skipping the troublesome word. If all else fails, tell her the word and ask her if it might be correct, so she feels in control of reading.
Step 3
Find out your child's interests. If he's an avid skateboarder, get a few magazines that focus on skateboarding or a biography of Shaun White, the Olympic snowboarder and skateboarding champion. If he loves camping, take him to the library or the bookstore and peruse the shelves for books on the subject that he might enjoy.
Step 4
Start with a movie. Many children's books are turned into blockbuster films. It's sometimes easier for kids to understand the plot if they've seen the movie. Start with "Harry Potter" or "Cinderella" and then turn to the text.
Step 5
Model the joy of reading. If you love a good book, your kids are likely to as well. Sit down on weekends or when you have leisure time and glance through a magazine, newspaper or book to show your kids how reading is a skill used throughout your life.
