WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S READING AT HOME
-Have a cozy corner that invites reading and provide time for your child to look at books or read on his or her own.
-Read aloud daily even after your child can read independently.
-Visit bookstores and libraries with your child.
-Find out about when authors or storytellers are speaking at the library.
-Make signing and talking part of your daily routine.
-Talk about the story and pictures in the books you read together in a fun and natural way.
-Buy or make tapes of favorite books and songs to listen to at home or in the car.
-Respond enthusiastically to early attempts at reading and don’t worry about mistakes.
-Encourage risk-taking as children learn to read and memorize their first books.
Have your child chime in on repeated lines or a chorus.
-Take books with you wherever you go.
-Point out words around you, on signs and in stores for example.
-Write simple notes to your child.
-Tell “add on” stories as you hike or on a car trip.
-Encourage your child to tell stories from pictures in magazines, photographs and newspapers.
-Ask friends and relatives to give books as gifts.
-Talk about interesting words, characters in books, authors and illustrations.
-Point out ways to figure out words besides “sounding out” (by looking at pictures, reading on, breaking up the word into smaller words, thinking about what would make sense).
-Talk about books you enjoyed when you were little and ones you love now.
-When your child reads aloud, give enough time for her to correct her own mistakes.
-Help your child find information in books at the library.
-Play letter and word games like ABC bingo, Boggle and Jr. Scrabble.
-Subscribe to a children’s magazine (Zoo books, Your Big Backyard, Ranger Rick…)
-Celebrate the growth your child is making as a reader.