Get Your Kids Reading With These Proven Ideas
When teaching children to read, it shouldn’t be torture. Instead, look for ways to make reading fun! As parents and family members expectantly wait for their child to learn to ready, the pressure can ultimately put a damper on a child’s excitement about reading. Once a child has lost the excitement of reading, the desire may become extinguished. You can help make reading fun for your child, while creating a lifetime love of reading that will stay with your child. Keep reading for ideas on how to actively engage your child in the reading process.
POPCORN READING. This technique involves the older reader to let the child read words that he knows, while the experienced reader reads words that cause frustration. When reading together, both readers take turns reading out loud. Use the word “popcorn” to pass the turn to the other reader.
READING BUDDIES. Pairing your child with a friend or older sibling and making them reading buddies is a great tool to make reading fun. Often, children will be able to explain things to each other on a peer level that will make it easier for the child to understand. This laid back approach often makes it easier for your child to learn to read, since there isn’t an adult nearby making them nervous.
Reading Buddy Pair. Pair your reader up with an older “reading buddy” and have them read a book out loud together. We all have had times where an explanation of something made more sense coming from one of our peers or a sibling. This gives your child the opportunity to practice reading without an adults watchful eye causing possible nervousness.
FLASHLIGHT READING. Turn reading into a treat. Instead of “lights out”, let your child earn flashlight reading time by picking up their room, or getting to bed quickly. You get a clean room, and your child will feel privileged to earn the flashlight for 15 or 20 minutes to read a book at bedtime. When reading is a reward it automatically makes reading fun!
SECRET HIDEOUTS. Didn’t we all love hideouts as children? Make a fort out of blankets for your child and create a secret reading hideout. Crawl inside with your child and make it a fun quiet time for your child in order to make reading fun in a secret space.
READING CORNER. Create a specific spot in your house a the “reading corner”. Let your child pick a special pillow or rug and set it up in the reading corner. Consider using a bean bag for the reading corner – it is very appealing for kids of all ages. Decorate your child’s corner with pictures and other special mementos to make it somewhere they will want to be. It makes reading fun when it can be a getaway.
READ TO YOUR CHILD. It seems obvious, but sometimes we get so busy we forget. Take a break from your routine – or create it as part of your daily routine – time to read to your child. You might find you enjoy it as much as your child.
Picture Detective – Have your child flip through a book and look at all the pictures and tell you what he/she thinks is going to happen in the story. Read the story and see how close he/she was.
POP UP WORDS. Find a particular word that gives your child trouble, and every time you come across the word in a story “pop up” (stand up together). This will create an association with the word and will help the child remember. This technique works best if your child is a kinesthetic learner – one that learns through touch and feel.
Star of the Story – Have you ever seen a personalized story book where your child’s name is printed in the story? This is a unique way to get your reluctant reader excited about a book. In these kinds of books, your child’s name and the name of his/her friends are printed in the story-line, making your child the star of his/her very own book! How motivating is that? He/she will have to read the book to find out what kind of adventure he/she will be going on! You can find companies that make these kind of books on the internet or by going to a children’s book store.
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