Tips for parents for helping their child with reading

Parents and young children reading together

1. Setting aside time to read aloud to children helps them to learn that reading is a pleasant experience, that reading is something that you care about, and that reading opens up a whole new world of fun and adventure.
2. Join the library and go regularly with your child. Everyone can have access to good books. Encourage your child to choose books. Ask the librarian for help.
3. Praise your child’s interest in books and reading. To become a reader your child needs to read and be read to at home - it doesn’t just come from schoolwork.
4. Discuss the pictures and the story with your child. Put your finger under the words as you read to give the child the idea of linking words with sounds.
5. Young children love to hear the same stories over and over. When they become familiar, encourage your child to say any of the lines s/he remembers at the right time. Praise their early ‘reading’ even when it is from memory, because this is an important first step.

Children who can read independently

1. Keep on reading aloud to your child - continue as long as you both enjoy it. Children love the cosy feeling of their parent reading to them, and it keeps them interested in books.
2. Try to find books on their interests - librarians can help here. Ask in bookshops for particular topics.
3. Try starting a new book together to help the child get ‘into’ it, and then see if it takes off for them.
4. Try to encourage a varied reading diet - comics are fine as long as they are not the only texts read. Don’t forget how much some children like fact books and list books. Libraries have good selections of these. Also look out for remainder bargains and second hand books stalls
5. Encourage your young reader to read to you or to a younger child and praise them. Talk to them about what they are reading, and respect their opinions. Tell them about books you enjoyed as a child. Make reading something to be proud of.
6. Use books and comics as rewards instead of sweets.
7. Show them that you enjoy reading also - the paper, magazines and books.
8. Parents can also children to read simple Irish books sometimes and praise and encourage them.

  Taken from the site:  www.reading.ie/content/tips-parents

JF