A Parent's Guide to Reading

As a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher. When you help your child learn to read, you are opening the door to a world of books and learning. Reading aloud to children is the best way to get them interested in reading. Before long they will grow to love stories and books.

Eventually they will want to read on their own. With the help of parents, children can learn how to read and can practise reading until they can read for their own enjoyment. Then they will have a whole world of information and knowledge at their fingertips!

Reading can be a fantastic family activity.

Spending time with word games, stories, and books will help your child to:

• gather information and learn about the world
• learn how stories and books work – that they have beginnings, endings, characters, and themes
• learn how to build empathy and understand about how other people feel
• build a rich vocabulary by reading and talking about new words
• learn how to listen and how to think
• learn the sounds of language and language patterns
• fall in love with books

It's natural to want to compare your child's reading abilities with those of other children of the same age, but not all children develop reading skills at the same pace. What's important is that you are aware of your child's reading level so that you can choose books and activities that will help him or her improve. Use the tips in this guide and work with your child's teacher and others to improve your child's reading skills.

Top Tips for Reading Success at Home