5 tips for building reading skills

January 8, 2019

• Topical

While some children adore reading, others find it more challenging and parents often ask how they can help their children find the enthusiasm to read. It is an essential skill and plays an important role in their later school success.

Whether you are trying to help your child build their vocabulary or simply encourage them to open a book, we have a simple set of tips to make reading at home a fun activity.

• Encourage a wide variety of reading material

Reading does not only have to be in the form of a storybook. There are many materials both fact and fiction that will interest your child and still be able to help them improve their reading skills. A few examples include cookbooks, joke books, comic strips, poems or blog posts. Explore what they enjoy and they’ll become more willing to read in no time.

• Create a reading routine

The more your child reads, the better they will become as they practice. By setting aside a certain time for reading each day, the activity will become less of a chore and hopefully something they begin to look forward to. Divide a book into sections so they are always left wondering what will happen next, making them excited to read the next day.

• Let children pick what they want to read

Do not force certain reading material onto your child. It is important that they are taking an active role in selecting something that truly appeals to them. A trip to the local library will give them the opportunity to pick something for themselves in line with their interests, making them more likely to want to read.

• Read aloud together

Reading aloud and vocalising a story can make reading more fun. This will help your child to relate to the text and better retain the information. Reading in different voices and expressions is also a great activity to do together, allowing for bonding time while also engaging them with the book and exploring their imaginations.  

• Ask questions

Encourage your child to ask questions about what they are reading to ensure they understand the material and stay engaged. Alternatively, you can ask them questions to see how much they have internalised of what they have just read, undoubtedly advancing their reading skills.

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