Imagine the satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment when your child reads a book on their own for the very first time! It can be frustrating teach your child to read, so let me give you 8 ways to help in this sometimes-overwhelming venture.
Disclaimer: Our purpose in sharing our content with you is to try to narrow down the immense amount of information available to you, and to share ideas that have worked for us. Our content is in no way legal advice, and we cannot be held responsible for any adverse effects caused as a result of taking our advice that we share with you on this website.
Watch the Eyeballs
You might hate me for saying this, but I really want you to get your child away from their screens as much as possible. I know it’s hard. I’ve been there. In fact, I have to remind myself to do this all of the time.
However, the next time your child is in front of a screen, pay attention to their eyeballs. The problem becomes very evident particularly if they are watching a cartoon filled with action or playing a video game. You would think that you are watching a world tournament ping pong match! These shows and games have our kids’ eyes bouncing all over the screen. Think of what that does to their muscle memory.
When we sit down to read, our eyes need to move left to right, top to bottom. The more we read, the more we can teach our eyes to naturally move in this direction.
I am not saying that you need to throw out all electronics with next week’s trash but try to set some goals for your family to cut back on screen time. It might need to be a gradual process, but you will get there, and your eyes will thank you for it!
Let Their Fingers do the Walking (I Mean Reading)
Ok, once you have a handle on that first one, the hardest part is over. Whew!! This one is easy. The trickiest part of implementing this step is remembering to do it. However, once you conquer this new habit, it will become second nature.
As you are reading, use your finger to move from word to word.
As your child progresses, allow them to use their finger. This will help them keep their place, as well as train the eyes, brain and finger to move left to right, top to bottom. I still do this many times when I read, although I use a bookmark to keep my place instead of my finger. Many school systems use guided reading strips to train the eyes and remove distractions.
Use Your Noggin
Here’s another easy one for you. Once again, the toughest part will be remembering to implement it. As your child is reading, keep nodding your head. This is actually a sales technique, (watch for it next time you go to buy a car!) but it works for reading as well. As you nod, you are giving your child a nonverbal seal of approval and building their confidence. This works any time they are learning a new skill. In the world of bullying and conflict, our kids need a nod of approval to counteract all of the negativity they are facing.
Think Twice Before Bailing Them Out
This next tip takes a little more practice, but once you get the hang of it, it will come naturally and you won’t even realize you are doing it. Your child is going to struggle with some words, and some struggle is good. Be conscious of how long you wait before you rescue them by giving them the word. If you bail them out too quickly, they will not learn to try things for themselves. However, if you wait too long, they will become frustrated. It will then be harder to foster a love of reading.
Give a Little Support
Let’s get back to another one that is easy to implement. When they are in the beginning stages of learning to read, start by reading every other page for them. This is especially helpful if it is a new book. Sometimes it takes them a little time to get comfortable with the story line. Remember that as they become comfortable with the book, you are building their confidence. It is also good to keep in mind that they are learning a new skill, which is taxing on their developing brains, and this gives them a little bit of a break as you are reading your page.
Let’s Go Camping!
Who says you need to sit at a school desk to read? Make a fort and grab a flashlight! Or find a cozy nook within your house that is free from distractions. Be sure to include items that bring your child comfort and exclude anything that will pull their eyes away from the page.
Give Your Child an Approving Audience
This next tip is just as easy, and this is a job that you can pass off to them. Before you begin to read, ask your child to set up their own little audience. Stuffed animals are great because they are extremely attentive listeners, and they will not interrupt! Your child can sit and read to a pet as well, especially if the pet is particularly calm. If they become more of a distraction, you may want to hold off on this idea!
Get on their Level
When choosing books to read, make sure you choose a reading level that matches your child’s reading stage. As they become more proficient, you can certainly start to challenge them. In the beginning stages, your goal is to give them confidence and not frustrate them.
Be sure to look through the content to be sure it is appropriate for your new reader and aligns with your family’s values. We loved the Usborne books when our kids were growing up, but I find that they are harder to come by lately. We also loved Sandra Boynton’s board books. You can even buy them as a boxed set when you click on the link. They make a great gift!