By taking some time and making a little effort at teaching your child to read, you could give your child an advantage in school. This will not only make your child more amenable to attending school, it will also give him or her boost in self confidence when they realize that they not only match up to the standard of the class but perhaps outperform fellow students effortlessly. Here are some tips that will help in teaching your child to read:
1. Start reading to your child at an early age
Get them used to having books around and get them used to deriving entertainment and information from books. Make it a fun and enjoyable activity that a child looks forward to, rather than something that is forced upon him.
2. Start to teach when your child is ready
There is age for everything. And there is age to get started reading as well. There is really no point in forcing a child to recognize letters and make sense of words before this. And remember that reading readiness can vary greatly from one to another child, Pushing your child to do something before she is ready could backfire.
3. Content is important
If you’re going to start off on material that is age appropriate and interesting for your child, you will give your child a head start. If the content is beyond the child’s mental age or is boring and didactic your child will lose interest and this is a setback you want to avoid.
4. Make reading a family activity
Because kids learn best by example, you need to set an example for your child by enjoying reading yourself. You cannot expect your child to read if you prefer watching TV yourself. It’s a good idea to make reading an everyday activity that the whole family enjoys.
5. Make reading fun
Do this by adding drama, using different voices, even perhaps adding some puppetry to the whole activity of reading. Use a lot of illustrated books or comics since children will understand pictures much before they comprehend words. Subscribe to a children’s publication in your child’s name to make them feel pleased and important about getting stuff in the mail.
6. Engage with your child as they read
Listen to them read, praise their efforts and encourage every bit of progress. Also speak about books and discuss them: did your daughter like that new story she read? What does your son think he would do if he were in place of little red riding hood?