Helping your child build excellent reading skills is not as difficult as you may think. Parents will discover that it is more about how you approach reading and reading time than making reading time mandatory. Kids will learn to love to read when they love the entire reading experience.
Top Strategies For Building Reading Skills
1- Read At The Right Level
It is essential to understand that every child has their own level and own pace at which they read. If your child is having a hard time reading, they may be reading at a level too high or too low. If the level is too high, they may be struggling with some of the larger words, which will affect comprehension. If they are reading at too low of a level, they will skim what they are reading because they are bored. This leads to a loss of retention as well.
2- Read Outloud Together
Make reading time a together time. Encourage your child to read aloud so that they can hear themselves, and you can help them with any words that may be giving them problems. Then, read out loud back to them. It can be the same reading or a different story. Let your child hear you read and how you enunciate words. This gives them a chance to associate the words they hear with the ones they see. It is also a great bonding time. Because you are reading together, it makes it special, and your child will have good thoughts about reading.
3- Go To The Library Often
Going to the library has several benefits. First, there is such a large selection of books available; your child will be able to find the topics they are interested in and want to read. You can also help them discover new areas to read as well. Second, the library has many opportunities for learning and fun. Different programs that are offered for free at the library may be interesting to your child. This will help them associate the library with reading and fun. A final reason that the library is great is that you can have your child get their own library card. This teaches them responsibility about checking out, taking care of, and returning books on time.
4- Work With A Reading Tutor
A reading tutor is a great way for your child to discover the joys of reading in an educational setting. It is like having their very own personal teacher for a short time each week that devotes all their attention to them for your child. This one-on-one teaching method is perfect for children because it allows them to feel secure enough to ask questions and share their struggles without feeling embarrassed in front of a class of their peers.
Helping your child establish good reading skills is something that will help them throughout their entire lives. If your child is struggling, it may be something straightforward, such as books they find boring. However, your child may need some additional help. A reading tutor is a right choice to help your child excel in this fundamental skill.