HELPING YOUR CHILD TO BECOME A BETTER READER By Charles Siaw www.mykidswrite.com Introduction According to the book, “Starting Out Right” by the National Research Council of UK, reading difficulties should be identified and addressed as early as possible. “Children who do well in reading from the beginning rarely stumble later on. Those who have difficulty in the primary grades tend to remain behind their classmates as the years go by – even though they receive remediation”.(Wijesiri, 2001). Thus, it is important that parents make sure that their child picks up his reading skills from young. The early years are of paramount importance to develop interest in reading and to enhance the ability to read. Since the early years lay the foundation for creating a love for reading, parents have to nurture this habit by being creative. Parents can foster the reading habit among their children in various ways such as reading story books aloud, setting up a mini reading corner with plenty of reading materials, bringing them to the library or bookshops and giving books as gifts or prizes. Reading aloud For very young children, parents can start with picture books and move on to story books and novels as the children get older. Sometimes, the parents can read aloud to provide the model of pronunciation to motivate and encourage the child to take part in reading. Parents can read aloud to their child as early as from birth. Even though the child cannot understand the story or poem, he will enjoy hearing the parents’ voice. From hearing their parents read aloud, the child can learn a great deal about language. When reading, parents should be enthusiastic and allow time for the child to look at the pictures or hunt for objects in the pictures. Parents should discuss the meanings of the words and the stories with the child as well as help him to identify the letters and the words. Story-telling Story hours can be made enjoyable by stimulating the imagination and spirit of adventure of the children. The child needs to explore books; to be read to and to read the same books over and over again. Reading is a shared interactive activity. In the midst of reading, parents should answer questions the child has immediately. At the same time, parents should ask the child some questions related to the book after reading. One way to get the child to be interested is to have the parents telling an engrossing tale to the child. Just as the story reaches its climax, they can stop so that in order to satiate his curiosity. The child is encouraged to read the book. Parents can recommend books to the child to motivate him to read. The parents attempt to make reading seem desirable and worthwhile by communicating enthusiasm and providing some guidance to well-written books. Making books readily available It is a well-known fact that people tend to do what is convenient to them. The same is true of reading. People are more likely to read if it is convenient for them to do so. Thus, a reading corner is recommended in the home. Surrounding the child with a wide variety of interesting books heightens the probability that he will pick them up and read”. The child should have access to materials that stimulate language exploration. He should be able to select books from various reading levels which address a wide variety of interests. Parents should be sensitive to the reading interests of the child and purchase books and reading materials that interest the child. Parents should ensure that there is a range of reading material for the child at home, both fiction and non-fiction. Scheduling time for reading An independent or recreational reading program can be introduced by scheduling time for reading for each day at every level. Time is an important factor in reading literature as children need time to read. There must be regular and lengthy opportunities to read for enjoyment. Parents’ enthusiasm Parents’ enthusiasm in reading is important. The influence of parents who are lovers of good books is very great. The parents must set an example if they want their child to read more; they must enjoy reading and be acquainted with books.” To motivate the child to read, parents need to be in constant contact with him to monitor his progress and to encourage him to read widely. The parents need to show interest in the books read by the child and guide him to choose suitable titles. By demonstrating commitment in their own reading, the parents can foster positive attitude to reading and teach the child to find pleasure in reading. “ Making use of technological advancements In this age of technology, parents can make use of technological advancements to enhance their teaching of reading. Tapes can be combined with books to teach reading, especially for younger children. Nowadays various softwares are available to make reading fun, interesting and entertaining. In addition, parents can make use of movies and television programs to motivate their child to read. This can be done by encouraging the child to read about his favorite characters and introducing books related to the movie or television program. Conclusion It is really left to the ingenuity of the parents to think of how best to instill the habit of reading among students. For a free report on how to motivate your child write better, please log on to www.mykidswrite.com
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