Learning to read is a process that takes time, as learning to read is a complex process that requires a range of skills. Luckily, you can take lots of steps with your child to help them develop the skills that will allow them to learn how to read.
Listen to and Sing Children's Nursery Rhymes and Songs
Children's nursery rhymes and songs may seem repetitive, but they serve a very important purpose. Listening to rhymes that are set to a rhythm will help your child start hearing sounds in the words they hear and help them learn to identify syllables in words, both of which are foundational skills for reading.
When listening to children's songs and nursery rhymes, clap along to the songs. Recite the songs together with your child. These actions will help build up phonemic awareness, which is when one learns to pay attention to the individual sounds in words, which children's songs and rhymes help to foster.
Create a Print Rich Home Life
Another step you can take to help your child develop their reading skills is by creating a print-rich home life. That means having lots of books available in the home and a cozy space to read them.
Print-rich home life is about more than books. You can put up posters and charts in your child's room and throughout the house that contain words and images. You can also add labels to things in your home, from the items in your kid's bedroom to labels for where things go in the kitchen.
Adding more print to your child's life creates many opportunities to point out the words, connect the words to real things, and read and sound out the words.
Read Together Daily
It is so important to read with your child daily. When you read, take your time, follow the words on the page with your fingers, and ask engaging questions. Read to your child books that are at their comprehension level so that they can develop critical thinking skills, which are an important part of becoming a reader. Read basic learn-to-read books with your child, with simpler words, that your child will eventually be able to take over the duty of reading.
Regular reading will help your child learn and proper reading behavior, like how to hold a book and follow along. It will allow your child to gain comprehension skills and grow their vocabulary. It will allow your child to hear what it sounds like to read fluently.
You can learn more about teaching your child how to read by picking up a book on the topic for yourself. A book on learning to read will provide you with even more in-depth information on how learning to read works and more strategies and things you can do with your child to help facilitate their journey to becoming a reader.
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