Why Reading to Your Kids in Your Home Language Will Help Them Become Better Readers

As a parent, you may be wondering whether you should be reading to your children in your native language or in English. You may be afraid that reading to them in your native language will confuse them as they try to learn English, and that it will make it harder for them to read in English. You may also be concerned that you shouldn't read to them in English if you don't feel comfortable with your own English skills.

Research shows that children who are read to in their native language will have an easier time learning to read in their second language (such as English). The benefits are even greater for children who learn to read first in their native language. This means that by developing your child's literacy skills in your native language, you will be making it easier for them to learn to speak, read, and write English in the future. 

How can you help? Try these suggestions:

• Reading books in your native language with your child on a daily basis

• Talking about the stories you have read together

• Playing rhyming games and singing songs

• Encouraging your child to write in your native language

• Keeping native language print material in your home (books, greeting cards, magazines, and newspapers)

• Exposing your child to games, puzzles, and music in your native language

• Encouraging your child to use their native language to tell stories

• Expanding your child’s native language vocabulary by teaching him/her new words, pointing out and naming objects, and helping him/her improve pronunciation

• Visiting the public library regularly to check out books and other resources

Ask your student to check out a book from their school library to read together!