| Reading is the foundation of a life filled with | | | | relate the story to something or someone that |
| learning and understanding of the world. What a | | | | he knows? |
| gift it must be then, to instill love for reading in | | | | 3. At different points in story books, ask your |
| your child. If you are able to do so, you | | | | daughter to predict what is going to happen. Do |
| guarantee your child's success and ensure their | | | | not tell her what you think is going to happen. Be |
| ability to learn, grow, and adapt to the | | | | sure to ask questions at the end about the |
| ever-changing society in which we live. If the | | | | outcome and what she thought about it. |
| proper reading skills are not developed by your | | | | 4. Educational toys and computer programs that |
| child, he or she will struggle with all of the | | | | reinforce reading skills can be a great idea. Be |
| subjects in school. | | | | sure that these encourage your child to read, |
| Parenting is not an easy job, and it is especially | | | | though, and that they do not become a chore. |
| hard when you see your child struggling to master | | | | Your child will not stick with anything that is not |
| something as complex as reading and phonics. As | | | | enjoyable. Strive to keep reading an enjoyable |
| an adult with years of reading experience, it can | | | | part of your child's education. |
| be hard to visualize why your child is having | | | | 5. Instill a love of reading by setting a good |
| problems picking up something that came so | | | | example. Turn off the TV and pick up a book |
| naturally to you and to others. This can leave you | | | | yourself. If you make reading a regular part of |
| feeling inadequate and frustrated, both of which | | | | your life, your child will want to follow suit. Go to |
| can have a negative impact on your efforts to | | | | the library together, and make reading a leisure |
| improve your child's reading skills. | | | | activity. |
| So, be calm; be patient, and follow these | | | | 6. Look for opportunities to read where your child |
| parenting tips for improving reading skills: | | | | least expects it. This can be especially good for |
| 1. Read with your child often no matter what his | | | | children who refuse to cooperate with tutoring or |
| or her age. Bedtime stories are not just for | | | | other efforts to improve their reading skills. Ask |
| babies and preschoolers. Schedule some sort of | | | | your child to help you follow a recipe for making |
| age-appropriate reading activity that the whole | | | | their favorite cookies or have him read you the |
| family can enjoy each and every day. Some ideas | | | | lyrics of his favorite song. Be creative; the goal is |
| include reading the newspaper, sharing poetry, | | | | to get your child reading. |
| creating plays from story books, and having a | | | | Remember, creativity is the key to teaching your |
| family reading hour. Remember what families did | | | | child to read, and then helping your child improve |
| before radio and television? They read together, | | | | her reading skills. Don't just bark commands at |
| and you can too. | | | | her or make her practice reading drills. Instill a love |
| 2. Ask your son questions about what was read | | | | of reading in her and she will continue to learn and |
| to see if he understands the text. Can your child | | | | grow even when you are not watching. |