Most people do not realize the importance of reading or bother to understand the process of learning to read until they have to start teaching their kids to read at home.
Many are under the assumption that learning to read is a ‘natural’ process that will happen just like the psychomotor development of the child. Only that, it is not!
Teach Your Child to Read
Teaching kids to read is a complex process that needs to be done with proper strategies. The process is complex but the steps are very simple and effective. If implemented properly, these strategies will turn your child into a brilliant learner.
You, as a parent, need to develop the appropriate skills to understand methods of teaching your children. Build a positive learning environment at home and you will observe the amazing curious learning and reading attitude in your child.
Consergy has brought 10 tested and proven strategies that would act as a guide for you to teach your child to read at home.
Before reading the strategies, you must go through this video if you are a parent with a child aged 2 to 14.
Use nursery rhymes and songs to build clear speech
The rhyme and rhythm of nursery rhymes and songs for little kids help them to recognize sounds and syllables in words. This will further help them to read. Your child will learn a lot of words and their right pronunciations from these rhymes and songs.
Create Phonemic Awareness
Creating phonemic awareness is an important element in teaching your child to read. There are several activities that you can start doing with your child from a very young age, say one.
You must have noticed that schools start by teaching nursery rhymes to kids. Clapping rhythmically and singing in unison is an effective way to create phonemic awareness. The secret bonus with this method is that you will form an amazing life-long bond with your child.
Increase Vocabulary: one new word every day
Building vocabulary is necessary to ensure a better reading ability in your child. Every day, show one new object to your child and give details about its use and importance. The child may not understand everything but will narrate, but will intake a few. Speak slowly so that your child can understand the phonics. This will enhance your child’s decoding skills and help in building vocabulary.
Develop fluency
Whenever you give new information to your child, remember to speak very slowly. Children tend to copy the lip movements of the speaker. When you speak slowly, it becomes easy for your child to get hold of the fluency of the word with the appropriate speed, understanding, and accuracy.
Fun with Letters
Use letter magnets or blocks to teach three-letter words to your child. Many children find it difficult to understand the difference between various middle vowel sounds.
Make a game out of the magnets or blocks. Place them one by one and ask your child to pronounce them. Once the child is familiar with the individual letters then you can make three-letter words and make your child practice. You can pronounce the words and ask the child to point out or put the magnet with the vowel on the surface. Clap and appreciate your child every time he/she points at the right letter.
Use audio tracks
To enhance the reading ability, it is recommended to use audio tracks for your child. You can use recordings that teach letters of the alphabet, names of fruits, vegetables, colors, and daily use items. This method helps to create recognition of the various items.
Let your child write
Several researchers have proven that children who are given books to color and write on at an early age learn better than the ones who come across these on going to school.
You should give a few coloring books and crayons to your child and let him/her color and draw however he/she wants. You can also provide a wall of the house for this activity but remember to train your child to use only the provided limited area.
Create a print-rich environment
Creating a print-rich environment will help in building your child’s reading skills. Seeing printed words on charts, posters, labels, and books enable the cognitive function of children to build connections between sounds and letter symbols. You can create this environment even when you’re outside. Show billboards and posters and ask your child to say the letters displayed. You can ask questions like, “What sound is that letter?” “Can say other words that start with the same sound?” “What are the other words that rhyme with that sound?” This will also help you to create curiosity in your child.
A different way of reading
Reading before bedtime is not only beneficial for adults but also for kids. Invest in a few bedtime storybooks for your child. While reading to your child, keep the book at an angle from where your child can see what you are reading. Put your finger on the words and read along, slowly. This will help your child understand which word looks like what and how to pronounce them correctly.
Take some time off reading and ask questions. For younger kids, ask questions related to pictures given (for example, “What color is the dog?” “Do you see the car?” “Which animal is this?”). For older children, ask questions related to the story (for example, “How many sons did the farmer have?” “Where was the little red riding hood going?”)
This method strengthens your child’s compression skills. Your child will know how a good reader sounds like.
Play Word Games
It doesn’t matter how old your child is, word games can always be a “yes” on the table! The level of word games just develops with the age. With younger kids, you can play games asking the sound of the word/s. With older children, you can play games like asking them to say a new word from the last letter of the word you said and continue the game. This will serve as a helping hand in learning the spellings too.
Use these simple but very effective methods every day to develop good reading abilities and habits in your child.
Remember that every child learns at his/her own pace, so ensure that it is never forced upon him/her. Keep an enjoyable learning environment.
Also, go through this video if you are a parent with a child aged 2 to 14.
Swati Sharma
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