Children and Reading: Great Tips

Children and Reading: Great Tips

Not long after you arrive at the Kindergarten door you are asked to listen to your child read, often with little instruction on exactly how to do this. If your child struggles to read, especially after a long day at school and for you a long day at work, this process can be even more fraught.

So how should you engage in books and reading with your children?

Read to them often….snuggle down on the lounge, turn off all the technology, grab a pile of their favourites and read, read, read. Children love to be read to.  A child’s love of books and stories begins a long time before they can be independent readers and it’s our job to cultivate and nurture the love. Reading to your child builds vocabulary and comprehension. Children with a broad vocabulary are better readers. They are more able to comprehend both the written and spoken word, make learning connections, and it helps them spell, predict and decode new words.

Read together…there are a couple of ways to do this. There is a process called read-a-long, which requires the readers to read along together. Hold your child’s finger and follow along under the words. You lead, keep the pace and the reading fluent. For the older reader you can simply take turns reading a paragraph or page. Reading with your child builds fluency, comprehension and confidence. You can also use this time as an opportunity to emphasis sounds in words in relation to letters and to talk about rhyming words and word families.

Independent reading…Children need to practise reading, everyday and everywhere, street signs, billboards, birthday invitations, it all counts. Just like any skill the more you practise the better you get. Remember this time is about practising reading not testing reading. Firstly, explain to your child why they need to practise the skill. I talk to children about ‘building their reading muscles.’  Then, think about yourself as a reader, there are certain things we do without thinking that are good reading behaviours. These include:

  • Reading a blurb or synopsis to get an idea about the story, encourage your child to look at the cover and title and think about what the book might be about. Prepare their brain for the reading
  • Practising a reading before reading aloud, allow your child to quietly practice before reading to you
  • Check unknown words, allow your child to ask you how to read new or unknown words, encourage them to work it out supported by you

Once your child is ready to read use Pause, Prompt, Praise when they encounter new words.

Pause– give them about 5 seconds of thinking time to self-correct.

Prompt– offer prompts such as

  • Keep reading and see if that helps you to work out the difficult word
  • Look at the sound – what would make sense using that clue?
  • Go back to the beginning of the sentence and reread, get your mouth ready to make the sound – what word does your brain want to say?
  • Look at the pictures, do they give you a clue?
  • Try chunking the word, break it up into smaller chunks of sound
  • Try stretching the word, run your finger along it and stretch out the sounds

Try one or two of these, if they don’t work ask your child if they would like you to tell them the word or help them to work it out. This is an opportunity for you to model using the prompts.

Praise– the reading behaviour: ‘I like the way you re-read to make sense. I like the way you broke the word into chunks, used the beginning sound, used the picture cue.’ We can even say ‘I liked the way you stopped at that word and asked for help so that the story made sense.’

Talk about books…international research tells us that parents who read to and with their children and have conversations about social and political issues give their children academic advantage.  We know books allow us entry into a world of imagination, but they also give us opportunity to talk about social and political issues with our children. How does a little deaf and mute boy use diplomacy to end a war? (Boy, Phil Cummings) What do each of us and our culture bring to the Australian landscape? (I’m Australian Too, Mem Fox) How do we learn to be just who we are and by doing so make the world a better place? (Hark Its Me Ruby Lee, Lisa Shanahan). After the reading, do the talking. Share the story, its meaning and message.

Books are for enjoyment, sharing, learning and coming together. Make this the focus of your reading with your child, a special and precious time to stop, share, talk and learn together.

Happy reading!

Words | Mary Ryan

Mary is an educator with more than 30 years experience. She has taught Kindergarten to Year 6 and has held a number of leadership positions in schools across Sydney. Mary has a particular interest in the space between school and home and a determination to empower families and schools to work positively together for the benefit of children.

Related Articles

Read, Grow, Inspire: Mary Ryan on Children's Book Week

News | Book Life | Events & Festivals

22 August 2023

Read, Grow, Inspire: Mary Ryan on Children's Book Week

How to Get Them Hooked! Motivating Reluctant Readers

News

10 May 2023

How to Get Them Hooked! Motivating Reluctant Readers

How Audiobooks Help Children Learn To Read

Kids & Ya

24 November 2022

How Audiobooks Help Children Learn To Read

Screens Down, Books Up: 4 Tips to Reignite the Spark of Reading

News | Book Life

24 March 2022

Screens Down, Books Up: 4 Tips to Reignite the Spark of Reading

A New Year’s Resolution For Parents

News | Book Life

3 December 2021

A New Year’s Resolution For Parents

The Power of Reading: How Books Help Develop Children’s Empathy and Boost Their Emotional Development

News | Book Life

3 March 2021

The Power of Reading: How Books Help Develop Children’s Empathy and Boost Their Emotional Development

Tips on how to steer your child’s reading in the right direction

Kids & Ya

9 December 2020

Tips on how to steer your child’s reading in the right direction

Reading: the secret to living a longer life

News | Book Life

4 March 2020

Reading: the secret to living a longer life

    Reading: the secret to a longer life

    Kids & Ya

    26 November 2019

    Reading: the secret to a longer life

    Transforming Lives

    Kids & Ya

    25 June 2019

    Transforming Lives

    COMMENTS

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    1. Helen says:

      Thanks so much for this, Mary.

      I’m a teacher, and currently work as a private tutor. I’ve just started working with a yr 1 student who is experiencing reading difficulties.

      While I know all of these tips, it’s a bonus for me to have an article all ready to give to the parents.

      I’ll be printing it and taking it with me today.

    2. ElizaLamble says:

      Fantastic tips for fostering a love of reading in children! These insights not only make learning enjoyable but also create a lifelong bond with books. The emphasis on making reading a shared and interactive experience is key. Kudos for encouraging parents and educators to nurture the joy of exploration through literature.

    3. KiaraHelbig says:

      Exploring the captivating world of imagination through the lens of vibrant children images is truly heartwarming. These photos on Depositphotos beautifully capture the essence of joy and discovery in the realm of reading. Witnessing children immersed in books not only fosters a love for literature but also cultivates a lifelong passion for learning. The images radiate positivity, showcasing the profound impact that reading can have on young minds. Kudos to the photographers for encapsulating these precious moments that inspire a love for storytelling and the magic that unfolds within the pages of a book.

    4. David says:

      A child’s love of books begins before they can read independently, so nurturing this drift hunters love is crucial.

    5. Andree Oren says:

      The only time I enjoy physics is when it involves merging fruits in Watermelon Game. Who knew Newton’s laws could be so fruity?

    6. Windsor says:

      Even though I am already aware of all of these suggestions, it will help me if I have an essay prepared to send to the parents. online paintig for sale florida

    7. Beauti gupta says:

      If you have any questions or need help with your coursework, Arekere Escorts Service feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to assist you.