Parents can help children read

Parents sometimes ask what they can do to help their children develop a love for reading.

Parents are the greatest influence on their children and are often the most important factor in getting children ready to read. Generally parents know their children best and can interact with them more frequently. Children learn by doing things and they love doing things with their parents. When parents take the time to read, tell stories or sing nursery rhymes with their children, they demonstrate that this is something fun. This is one of the greatest influences in developing a reader.

Early literacy is what children know about reading and writing before they can actually read and write. Research shows that children get ready to read years before they start school. You can help your child learn important skills now so they can become good readers.

Generally, parents of a child from birth to about two years old should be aware of six pre-reading skills that can help your child. These skills will continue to help children through ages three to four and five to six years old.

1. Print Awareness - Noticing print, knowing how to handle a book and knowing how to follow the words on a page.

2. Vocabulary - Knowing the name of things.

3. Letter Knowledge - Knowing letters are different from each other, knowing their names and sounds and recognizing letters everywhere.

4. Phonological Awareness - Being able to hear and play with the smaller sounds in words.

5. Print Motivation - Being interested in and enjoying books.

6. Narrative Skills - Being able to describe things and events and tell stories.

We will discuss these skills and provide possible books for their use in future posts.