BUILDING READING SKILLS in your child

One of the wonders of human development is the child’s ability to learn a language. A child requires parental guidance in order to realize his maximum potential. It is never too early to help your child become a keen reader. It is not the mechanics of reading that’s important, but it’s the love for books. Children need to know about their world, be read to and talk about how and why. Children need the involvement of parents and the opportunity to try to explore on their own. It is essential to encourage your child, but one should not over do it. Children who are pushed too much often have problems with certain types of thinking skills. Learning to read is easy and most children will read with pleasure. Children need not follow a prescribed curriculum to learn how to read.
Learning occurs from passive teaching by being a willing parent, who offers a child help when asked and by letting a child decide when he is ready to read.
There are many things in that children can read i.e. street signs, newspapers, etc. A parent should read to their children for mere enjoyment and should not worry about teaching their children to read. It is important for parents to let go of the ideas that their children should learn to read. Let it come to them naturally. A child can figure out a lot of things, too much pressure leads to a dislike for reading. If children are allowed to read for pleasure, they develop a life long love of reading.
How to help your child learn to Read

 
Parents should not worry about teaching their children the mechanics of reading; rather they should teach their children to love books and stories. There are many things one can do as parents to help their children to love reading, they are as follows:
For Pre schoolers

•  Use books to bond:

Read to your child on a regular basis. Allocate a particular time whereby you spend time with your child and his books e.g. Bed-time is a good time to share with your child. 

• Make trips to the library:

Go to the library as often as you can. Encourage your child to get to know the library, so that he can pick out interesting books. 

•  Read expressively:

Make reading a fun time experience by showing your child that books can be brought to life. Make sounds, use different pitches, tones. Be loud and soft and everything in between. Dramatize books that you read to your child by putting on little plays and puppet shows. Children enjoy the experience of role playing.

• Be a role model:

Your child copies your actions. You should read around your child. Let your child realize that his parents too are fond of reading. 

•  Select books that your child enjoys:

Always choose books that your child has interest in. Introduce your child to variety of subjects, i.e. Mickey Mouse,. Dinosaurs, Cars, Winnie the Pooh, Barney, etc. You may get tired reading Clifford Barney books, but your child will love it. Choose reading books that are multi sensory such as touch and feel books, popup books, etc. 

•  Discuss the pictures:

Select books with bright colours and large pictures. Talk about the illustrations with your child. Always talk about the picture and show him how it relates to the story. This prepares your child for early reading, as he will use pictures for clues about what each page says. 

•  Talk about a book before you read it:

Give a small introduction about the book and its contents. This will interest your child further to read and build up his comprehension skills. 

•  Point to the words as you read:

Emphasize the parts of the books by showing your child the cover and following the words you read with your finger.
What can you do?

For school aged children: You need to show children that reading is a part of life and not a separate activity. There are quite a few things that parents can do to help their children to love reading, they are as follows:
1. Develop an environment filled with books:

Children respond whatever happens in their immediate environment. Make sure to have books kept around the house and read them out loud, as often as possible.
2. Provide writing tools :

One can help their child gain access to the world of literacy by providing some of the following resources: pencils, crayons, papers of different colours, sizes, shapes, paints, stamp set. Kids are great imitators, even if they lack the knowledge they can still engage in explanatory activities leading to literacy, provided they have the tools to do so.
3. Model Reading:

Children always copy their parents. Make sure to nurture your own love of reading. When your child sees you busy reading, he will be influenced by your example.
4. Encourage writing skills:

 Encourage children to write letters to their grandparents, relatives and friends. Keep notepad where he can leave notes informing you when and where he is going. Buy him a diary, whereby he can write down his personal thoughts. Develop your child’s impulse to write. By showing him that writing is a form of expression.

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