Teaching Your Child to Read: Tips Every Parents Should Know

By Kathryn Jimenez 2 years ago

Most adults take reading for granted, forgetting they too once had to learn it from scratch. This changes when they try to teach their children and realize that it’s not an easy skill to master. While some of the process is natural, learning how to read does often come with its own set of difficulties. 

Since it’s a sophisticated skill, reading requires many elements to come together in perfect harmony so that the child is able to acquire it. However, the learning process can also be enjoyable and fairly straightforward if you know the right steps to take. Read on for a few simple strategies to get you started.

When can a child learn how to read and write?

Most kids learn how to read and write by the time they’re 6 or 7. Some children are able to learn in preschool while others do it in first grade. This is individual and unique to every child, but it’s safe to say that you can start developing the love of reading and teach your child the basics when they’re about 5 or 6. For some, it can happen even sooner. It’s best to observe your child to see when they’re ready.

Some children can find reading more challenging than others. However, they can become proficient readers too if the problem is identified and addressed. With some extra practice and effort, most of them will get on par with their peers.

How can parents help their child learn?

There are many effective techniques to use when you’re teaching your little one to read. They’re also enjoyable and can be a great pastime for both the parent and the child. Here are some things to try:

  • Teach them nursery rhymes and songs: Not only do kids love them, but they also boost their phonemic awareness. Singing and reciting helps them grow accustomed to the building blocks of language, including individual sounds and how they combine into syllables. These skills are very useful when it comes to mastering reading.
  • Stimulate them with fun activities: These are many educational games and activities to help with reading and you should make good use of them. The more variety there is, the better, as it’ll make your child see the joy in reading. You can use any opportunity in your everyday life to practice, too. For example, ask them to read out signs that they see while walking down the street. Gamify reading activities regularly to get their attention and complete focus.
  • Add reading to your everyday routine: Children emulate what they see and they react well to the things they’re familiar with. If you incorporate reading into their daily routine from an early age, they’ll be more likely to have a positive attitude toward it later on. If you’re a reader, they’ll want to do the same. Also, if you read them a bedtime story every night, they’ll tend to want to do this on their own too.
  • Take a break: The last thing you want to do when trying to instruct your child is to put too much pressure on them. Rather than helping, this can actually create an aversion to reading and halt their progress. Instead, take it easy and try to enjoy the process. Look at it as spending quality time with your child rather than something that you need to cross off your to-do list. To reward them for making progress and help them relax after a productive learning session, go out and visit a place they like, such as an amazing playground where they can blow off steam.