Guest post by Denise Shields
Learning to read is a monumental milestone in a child’s life, opening up a world of knowledge, imagination, and opportunity. As parents, you play a crucial role in laying this foundation of teaching your child to love learning with reading. While every child learns at their own pace, these nine engaging tips can help you nurture your child’s literacy journey and make the process enjoyable for both of you.
Tips from a Teacher to Get Your Kids to Fall in Love with Reading
Read Them Stories: The Magic of Shared Reading
The single most impactful way to foster a love for reading and build foundational skills is by reading aloud to your child regularly. Make it a special time, snuggling up with a good book. Point to the words as you read, vary your voice, and bring the characters to life. This exposes
them to vocabulary, sentence structure, and the sheer joy of stories.
Use Flash Cards: Visual Building Blocks
Flash cards can be a valuable tool for introducing letters and simple words. Keep the sessions short and playful. Focus on recognition rather than rote memorization. You can create your own with colorful markers or purchase commercially available sets. Start with uppercase and lowercase letters, then move on to basic sight words like “the,” “a,” and “is.”
Have Fun: Learning Through Play
Learning shouldn’t feel like a chore. Incorporate reading activities into playtime. Use magnetic letters on the fridge, play word-matching games, or create simple labels for objects around the house. The more enjoyable the experience, the more engaged your child will be.
Highlight Letters: Making Connections
As you read together, gently point out specific letters and words. You can say, “Look, this word starts with the letter ‘B,’ just like your name!” or “Can you find the letter ‘A’ on this page?” This helps children connect the visual representation of letters with their sounds and meaning.
Go to the Library: A World of Discovery
Make regular trips to the library a family adventure. Let your child choose books that interest them. Libraries often have story time sessions and other literacy-based programs that can further spark your child’s enthusiasm for reading. It also teaches them the value and accessibility of books.
Phonics: Unlocking the Code
Understanding phonics – the relationship between letters and sounds – is crucial for decoding words. Start with simple letter sounds and gradually introduce blends (like “bl” and “st”) and digraphs (like “sh” and “ch”). There are many fun phonics games and activities available online and in educational workbooks.
Praise Your Child: Encouragement Fuels Progress
Celebrate every milestone, no matter how small. Offer specific praise for their efforts, such as “I love how you sounded out that word!” or “You remembered that letter perfectly!” Positive reinforcement builds confidence and motivates them to keep learning.
Rhyme Time: Developing Phonological Awareness
Rhyming is a fun way to develop phonological awareness, the ability to recognize and manipulate sounds in spoken words. Read rhyming books, sing rhyming songs, and play rhyming games. This skill is a strong predictor of reading success.
Story Telling: Nurturing Imagination and Language
Encourage your child to tell their own stories. This helps them develop their vocabulary, sentence structure, and understanding of narrative. You can start by asking them about their day or prompting them with open-ended questions like, “What happened next?” This also reinforces the connection between spoken and written language.
Teaching your child to read is a rewarding journey. Be patient, make it fun, and celebrate their progress along the way. By incorporating these tips into your daily routine, you can help your child unlock the magic of reading and set them on a path to lifelong learning.
About the author Denise Shields
Denise brings over three decades of dedicated experience to the education of preschool children aged 2-5. As the founder and owner of Creative Kids Preschool in Stafford County, Virginia, she has shaped the early learning experiences of hundreds of young children over the past 15 years. Recognizing a broader need, she also established Creative Kids Virtual Preschool, a free online resource that has empowered thousands of families to support their children’s early education at home.
