I believe that reading is at the root of learning. Children who learn to read at an early age and continue to do so as they grow older have a big advantage over those who do not pick up books on a regular basis. Reading opens up worlds that may otherwise be closed to your child. Reading hones their minds more than watching TV and playing games can. As early as you can, help your child learn how to read and how to read well. How can you do this? Why not try these simple tips?
Give him/her the right kinds of books.
There are so many books out there but not all of them will helpful to your child. The idea is to buy the books which have words that are not too hard for your child – he/she should recognize at least 90 percent of the words in the book. At the same time, the book’s story or topic should be interesting for your child. Otherwise, it will just be too difficult or too boring, making reading more of a task than a pleasure.
Have your child read aloud.
Different people have different learning styles. You are lucky if your child learns best by seeing the letters and words. For some children, however, they learn best if they hear ideas. In order to make reading easier for these kinds of learners, have your child read aloud. Alternatively, take turns in reading aloud and have fun while at it.
Talk about the books.
After your child reads a story or a book, engage him/her in a discussion about it. Ask him/her comprehension questions that will help him/her remember the details. Ask him/her questions that will relate the story to his/her own experiences. Ask him/her hypothetical questions that would help him explore his imaginative side.
Your child can learn to read well and learn to love reading too. You just need to take an active role and show him/her yourself.