General Tips For Parents On Helping Your Children Become Readers

Take time to enjoy books and stories with your children. Not only will it help them improve their reading but it is a great opportunity to enjoy time together. Opening a book is like beginning an adventure - you never know what you might find inside.

1. Start reading in the first weeks of your child's life and don't stop! Babies love nursery
rhymes.

2. Talk with your children as you play, shop or work around the house. Listen to what they say. Ask questions. Point out letters and words that they see all around them - read street signs, cereal boxes or words in the street.

3. Follow the words and read the story using the pictures. As your child becomes more confident take it in turns to read. Praise your child - tell them how well they're doing and they'll want to read more.

4. Have fun! Remember that a good ten minutes is better than a difficult half-hour.

5. Try to make your reading as expressive as possible. Let the emotion of the story show through your facial expression and your voice. It really brings characters and the story to life. Try using different and funny voices for characters as this can really engage children. Talk about the words and what's happening in the story as you read.

6. Read to your children. Try to read to them at the same time every day. Bedtime is a great time to share a story. Why not let your child choose the story? Your child is never too old to enjoy a good story - keep reading to them even when they can read themselves.

7. Visit the library together. Ask the librarian for help in finding books your children will enjoy. Why not let your child join the library and have their own card?

8. Allow your child to choose their own books, comics and magazines. Find out what they enjoy - do they like animals, sports or magic? Follow their interests and let them read their favourites. Surprise them with books or magazines about their favourite interests and activities.

9. Introduce your children to different types of books; classic fiction, chapter books, short stories, joke books, poetry, non-fiction.

10. Read books, newspapers and magazines yourself, and have them visible around the home, so you and you children will always have something to read and your child will know that reading is important in your life.


By reading with your children regularly you are:

1) Stimulating their imaginations;

2) Developing their understanding of how language works;

3) Helping them to discover the joys of reading;

4) Strengthening your relationship with your child;

5) Giving them a great start to their education.


And Yeah, today's quote:

A person should have enough education so he doesn't have to look up to anyone. He should also have enough to be wise enough not to look down on anyone.