Top Tips for Teaching Your Child to Read

Reading is a crucial stepping stone in a child’s educational journey. It will also provide many benefits beyond school too, as children often enjoy reading for entertainment and relaxation.

One of the best ways to teach your child how to read is by reading together at home. However there are lots of other ways that your child can practice. I have teamed up with an independent Nursery in London to share the following tips.

It is important to include reading into your day-to-day activities. For example, you could ask your child to read out a recipe as you bake together or help with the shopping by reading the overhead signs at the supermarket. The trick is to try and make reading feel more fun, instead of just a school activity.

Reading apps are another way to help your child practice whilst having fun. You can download these apps onto your smart phones and iPads, and they encourage children to read through interactive games. Apps allow you to choose what your child can access, which is a much safer alternative to letting them browse the World Wide Web. 

Encourage your child to read by creating a reading space within your home. You could make a reading den with book shelves or a desk space with posters on the wall. Perhaps you could include your child’s favourite theme, like unicorns or dinosaurs to make reading time even more exciting. 

Imagination 

A passion for reading will also boost your child’s imagination and creativity. If your child has a favourite story, ask them to use their imagination to create a new ending. Get them to think about what parts of the story could be changed in order to achieve a different outcome. 

When your child seems stressed or troubled, encourage them to turn to reading. By focusing on reading, your child will be able to forget about their worries and relax. Show your child that they can always use the power of their own imagination to take them away to somewhere else when they need a break.