Reading

Make reading fun

Reading at home should be fun and easy. It should be something you both look forward to and a time for laughter and talk.

• Share the reading, take turns or see whether your child wants to read or be read to today

• All children like to be read to, so keep reading to them. You can read in your first language

• Read emails from family or whānau aloud

• Play card and board games together.

Here's a tip: talk a lot to your child while you are doing things together. Use the language that works best for you and your child.

Talk about reading

• Talk about pictures in books

• Sing waiata and songs, read poems and make up rhymes together (the funnier the better)

• Be a role model. Let your child see you enjoying reading and talk about what you are enjoying

• Point out words on signs, shops and labels

• Play word games like "I spy" and "Simon says"

Make it a special time together

Reading is a great chance for you and your child to spend special time together. Make reading:

• quiet and relaxing

• a time to sit close to your child

• 10–15 minutes without interruption, away from the TV

• an enjoyable, interesting and special time

• a time to praise your child for making an effort

Here are some tips: if your child is stuck on a word wait a few seconds, give them a chance to think. If they are still stuck, help them to try to work the word out by saying, "read the sentence again and think what would make sense". Ask "could it be …?" (and give a word that might fit). The pictures also help them check they have got the right word. If they still can’t work out the word, tell them and praise their efforts. Remember, reading should be fun.

Help your child to link stories to their own life. Remind them about what they have done when a similar thing happens in the story.