5 Tips for Boosting Your Child's Reading Skills (According To Science)
As a parent or a teacher, you stand to play a crucial role in nurturing your child's language and literacy development. Reading skills are essential for academic success and overall communication abilities in the modern world. Everything from applying for a job, surfing the web and completing homework requires the ability to read and write fluently. In the world of speech pathology, the importance of early intervention and parental involvement in fostering these skills cannot be understated. Here are five simple tips to help parents and teachers encourage their children's reading skills:
Promote Phonological Awareness: Phonological awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of language. Help your child develop this skill by engaging in activities such as rhyming games, clapping syllables in words, and identifying the beginning or ending sounds of words. Encourage them to play with language by making up silly rhymes or tongue twisters together.
Use Interactive Reading Techniques: When reading with your child, take a proactive approach to engage them in the story. Pause to ask open-ended questions about the plot, characters, or their predictions for what might happen next. Encourage them to retell the story in their own words or relate it to their own experiences. Point out letters, words, and sounds in the text to help them make connections between spoken and written language.
Provide Accessible Reading Materials: Make sure your home is filled with a variety of age-appropriate reading materials, including books, magazines, and educational games. Let your child choose what they want to read based on their interests and preferences. Create a print-rich environment by labelling objects around the house, displaying alphabet charts, and incorporating reading into everyday activities such as grocery shopping or cooking.
Model Fluent Reading: Children learn by example, so be sure to model fluent reading behaviours when reading aloud to them. Use expressive intonation, vary your voice for different characters, and pause for dramatic effect. Point out punctuation marks and discuss their significance in shaping the meaning of the text. Encourage your child to follow along with the text as you read and to take turns reading aloud to you.
Make Reading a Positive Experience: Foster a love for reading by making it an enjoyable activity for your child. Create special reading rituals such as bedtime stories or family reading time. Celebrate their achievements and progress in reading with praise and encouragement. Avoid putting pressure on them to read perfectly and instead focus on building their confidence and enthusiasm for learning.
In conclusion, by incorporating these simple tips into your daily routine, you can help support your child's reading development and set them up for success in school and beyond. Remember that every child learns at their own pace, so be patient and supportive along the way. Soon enough, your children will become confident and proficient readers.
Please note the above information is general in nature and is not intended as professional medical advice. Please seek an appointment with a registered speech-language pathologist if you are at all worried about your child's development.
References
Chung, P. J., Patel, D. R., & Nizami, I. (2020). Disorder of written expression and dysgraphia: definition, diagnosis, and management. Translational pediatrics, 9(Suppl 1), S46.
Wood, E., Biggs, K., & Molnar, M. (2024). Dynamic Assessments of Word Reading Skills in Diverse School-Age Children: A Meta-Analysis. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 1-19.
Suggested Resources
FREEBIE Hickory Dickory Dock: Auditory Comprehension
A classic nursery rhyme auditory comprehension and WH question activity for early learners.
FREEBIE The Gingerbread Man: Reading Comprehension
A classic fairy tale reading comprehension and sequencing activity for early readers.