- Read often to your child and have fun.
- Snuggle when you read.
- Don’t skip your regular reading time.
- Read and reread stories requested by children.
- Make predictions (child tells what he/she thinks will happen next).
- Enjoy the illustrations.
- Talk about the authors and illustrators of the books you read.
- Be patient while your child is reading aloud.
- Listen to books on tape.
- Have your child read into a tape recorder once a month and share the progress with him/her.
- Read aloud together with your child.
- Have your child think of a new ending to the story.
- When reading a non-fiction book, ask your child what they know about the topic and what they want to learn.
- Discuss similarities and differences between stories. (Great with Fairy Tales)
- Alternate reading. You read a page, your child reads a page ,etc.
- From time to time, invite other adults or older children to listen in or join in reading aloud.
- When you read, involve your child by having him/her point out objects in the pictures and follow the words with his/her finger.
- Read poems to/with your child.
- Read children’s magazines.
- Echo Read: Choose something fun to read, such as a poem, song, or joke. You read a sentence with expression and ask your child to repeat the phrase after you.
- Check out the public library.
- Create a special place for your child’s books in your home.
- Keep a few "old favorite" books in the car to enjoy.
Adapted from the Irvine Unified School District Family Literacy Project