There is a lot for our children to learn. Watching them acquire new skills and become well-rounded adults is a real joy. Raising children requires a lot of work, but it is all worth it.
Some skills are acquired easily, while others take years of concerted effort. Reading definitely falls into the latter category. It takes all children many years before they are able to read and write with ease, but as a parent, you can speed up the process by following the tips outlined below.
Start early
Starting to read to your children at an early stage helps a lot. Giving a baby a cloth book may seem like a waste of time, but it is actually a really good way to introduce your child to the idea that books are fun.
Babies like the brightness of these books, and enjoy the fact they can safely be put in their mouths. As they get older, you can introduce them to cardboard books with words that they can learn to read.
Read stories with your kids
Reading to your baby every night, for a few minutes, will help them to settle. Your child will see reading and books as part of a pleasurable experience, which will make it more likely that they will want to read as they get earlier.
Encourage your child to read everything
Studies show that the more often a child reads during the day the easier it is for them to learn. Getting your child to read anything that they see while they are out and about is a great way to get them reading more often. For example, reading safety signs aloud, or posters is a quick and easy way to get your children to read more. It requires very little effort on your part, and is a good way of helping your kids to understand why they need to be able to read well. Using the skill in everyday life helps them to see understand just how important it is to be able to read.
Expand your vocabulary
Research shows that the children of parents who use an extensive vocabulary when speaking to them read better. You can read more about this study here.
Taking the time to explain things in different ways is really worth doing, because it gives your child a bigger vocabulary too. The more words they know the easier it is for them to understand what they are reading, which, in turn, encourages them to read more.
Get your child to read aloud
It is good to see your children sitting there reading quietly, but it is also important for them to read aloud as well. Doing so, significantly improves how well they read.
You do not have to necessarily be the one to sit down and listen to your child reading. Kids love reading to their grandparents over Skype or on the phone. Studies also show that children who read to their pets improved just as fast as those that regularly read with their parents.
