Reading with your child

We ask that your child reads four times a week at home.  Please see our 'top tips' below, which should help you when reading with your child. Please also use these videos below to get an idea of how to listen to your child read as they begin their reading journey with us at St Joseph's .

10 top tips for parents to support children to read

1. Encourage your child to read

Reading helps your child’s wellbeing, develops imagination and has educational benefits too. Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.

2. Read aloud regularly

Try to read to your child every day. It’s a special time to snuggle up and enjoy a story. Stories matter and children love re-reading them and poring over the pictures. Try adding funny voices to bring characters to life.

3. Encourage reading choice

Give children lots of opportunities to read different things in their own time - it doesn’t just have to be books. There’s fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, magazines, recipes and much more. Try leaving interesting reading material in different places around the home and see who picks it up.

4. Read together

Choose a favourite time to read together as a family and enjoy it. This might be everyone reading the same book together, reading different things at the same time, or getting your children to read to each other. This time spent reading together can be relaxing for all.

5. Create a comfortable environment

Make a calm, comfortable place for your family to relax and read independently - or together.

6. Make use of your local library

Local libraries also offer brilliant online materials, including audiobooks and ebooks to borrow. See Libraries Connected for more digital library services and resources.

7. Talk about books

This is a great way to make connections, develop understanding and make reading even more enjoyable. Start by discussing the front cover and talking about what it reveals and suggests the book could be about. Then talk about what you’ve been reading and share ideas. You could discuss something that happened that surprised you, or something new that you found out. You could talk about how the book makes you feel and whether it reminds you of anything.

8. Bring reading to life

You could try cooking a recipe you’ve read together. Would you recommend it to a friend? Alternatively, play a game where you pretend to be the characters in a book, or discuss an interesting article you’ve read.

9. Make reading active

Play games that involve making connections between pictures, objects and words, such as reading about an object and finding similar things in your home. You could organise treasure hunts related to what you’re reading. Try creating your child’s very own book by using photos from your day and adding captions.

10. Engage your child in reading in a way that suits them

You know your child best and you’ll know the best times for your child to read. If they have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) then short, creative activities may be the way to get them most interested. If English is an additional language, encourage reading in a child’s first language, as well as in English. What matters most is that they enjoy it.

Top tips for reluctant readers:

• Model reading by alternating between your child reading a page, and yourself reading a page. Make sure you use expression and model voices for characters and fluency!

• Encourage their interests by finding books around them which support their passion. If your child is a budding scientist, or football mad or if they love fashion design, there will be a book for them!

• Listen to audio books as a way to hook children in.

• If there is an associated film, watch it and then compare the film with the book and talk about whether the characters looked the same as in their head, or if any important plot points from the book were missed.

• Take them to the local library- children love having the responsibility of choosing their own reading material.

• Read anything and everything: newspapers, internet articles about their favourite sports star or musician, poems, annuals. magazines or comics and graphic novels:  the possibility is endless!

• Share your own favourite childhood books with them as a bedtime story.

• Encourage a book swap with a friend of theirs.

• Make a 'reading den' at home- think cosy: blankets, battery operated candles, cushions and a mug of hot chocolate! 

• Write a letter to, email or tweet an author- you never know if your child will get a reply!

• Make the most of technology by video calling relatives or friends so your child can read aloud to someone else.