20 Tips for Teaching Your Child to Read Before They Start School

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Reading opens doors to knowledge, imagination, and endless possibilities. Parents must take proactive steps to instill a love for reading and lay a strong foundation for their children’s literacy skills even before they start school. Here are 20 suggestions to help you do that.

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Start Early

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Start exposing your child to books and language from infancy. Even newborns benefit from hearing language patterns, which sets a strong foundation for literacy development. Reading aloud, singing songs, and reciting nursery rhymes are simple yet effective ways to begin. 

Make it Fun

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Incorporate reading into daily activities through playful interactions. Songs, reciting nursery rhymes, and playing with alphabet toys can engage your child while introducing them to the world of language and literacy, making reading enjoyable and interactive fosters a positive association with books and learning. Children develop essential pre-reading skills through fun activities such as vocabulary, comprehension, and phonemic awareness without even realizing they’re learning. 

Read Aloud

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Dedicate time each day to read to your child. Choose fiction, non-fiction, rhyming, and picture books to keep them engaged and curious. Reading aloud exposes children to new vocabulary, sentence structures, and storytelling techniques. Children develop listening skills and a love for stories by hearing fluent reading from a young age.

Follow Their Lead

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Let your child choose the books they’re interested in. Allowing them to select their reading material empowers them to engage with topics that capture their curiosity and imagination. Whether it’s dinosaurs, superheroes, or fairy tales, honoring their preferences fosters a sense of ownership and excitement about reading. 

Point and Repeat

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As you read aloud to your child, point to the words on the page to illustrate the connection between spoken and written language. This simple action helps your child understand that words carry meaning and reinforces that printed text represents spoken words. 

Use Predictable Texts

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Choose books with repetitive phrases or patterns to engage your child and build their confidence in reading. Predictable texts allow children to anticipate what comes next, empowering them to participate actively in the reading process. Books like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle or “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle follow predictable patterns, making them perfect for young readers. 

Encourage Interaction

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Encourage interaction during reading by pausing to ask questions about the story or pictures. Engaging your child in conversation about the book enhances comprehension and critical thinking skills. Open-ended questions like, “What do you think will happen next?” or “How do you feel about this character?” foster active participation and encourage your child to express their opinions and ideas. 

Create a Print-Rich Environment

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Surround your child with written words in their everyday surroundings. Labeling objects around the house, displaying alphabet charts, and having a variety of books accessible encourages literacy exploration. By immersing your child in a print-rich environment, you expose them to the written word’s significance and relevance in daily life. 

Model Reading

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Demonstrate your enjoyment of reading to your child. When they see you engrossed in a book, magazine, or newspaper, they understand that reading is a valued and enjoyable activity. Make reading a visible and positive part of your daily routine, whether during quiet moments, before bedtime or on lazy weekends. By modeling reading behavior, you show your child the importance of lifelong learning.

Visit the Library

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Regular library visits expose your child to various books. Libraries often host engaging storytime sessions, providing interactive experiences that captivate young minds. Library visits also instill a sense of community and belonging as children interact with librarians and other young readers.

Make Reading a Routine

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Incorporate dedicated reading time into your daily schedule, such as during bedtime or quiet afternoons. Consistency is critical to establishing reading habits. Reading becomes a natural and enjoyable part of your child’s day by making it a routine. Set aside distractions and create a cozy environment conducive to focusing on books. Whether it’s a few minutes or longer sessions, prioritize this time for bonding and exploration through stories.

Use Technology Wisely

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While screens can aid learning, limit screen time and choose high-quality, interactive apps and e-books. Ensure they promote literacy skills and engage your child in meaningful ways. Supervise their screen time, balancing it with outdoor play, imaginative games, and hands-on experiences. Select apps and e-books that encourage active participation, such as interactive storytelling.

Play Word Games

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Incorporate entertaining word games like “I Spy” or “Rhyming Words” into your daily activities. These games make learning fun and engaging while strengthening your child’s literacy skills. “I Spy” encourages observation and vocabulary development as children search for objects based on descriptive clues. 

Practice Phonemic Awareness

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Phonemic awareness involves recognizing and manipulating individual sounds in spoken words. Engage your child in activities like clapping out syllables or playing with rhymes to develop this crucial skill. Start with simple games focusing on sound discrimination and segmentation, gradually progressing to more complex tasks.

Explore Letter Recognition

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Introduce your child to letters by pointing them out in everyday surroundings and playing games to identify them. By incorporating letters into daily activities, such as grocery shopping or going for a walk, you create natural opportunities for learning. Start with uppercase letters and gradually introduce lowercase ones. Use alphabet books, puzzles, and games to make letter recognition engaging and interactive. 

Explore Letter-Sound Relationships

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Teach your child the sounds of letters, starting with simple words like “cat” and “dog.” Use fun activities like sounding out words together and playing with letter magnets. Your child understands how written words represent spoken language by connecting letters to their corresponding sounds. 

Celebrate Progress

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Acknowledge and praise your child’s efforts and achievements along their reading journey. Whether they recognize a new letter or read their first sentence, every milestone is worth celebrating. Positive reinforcement boosts their confidence and motivation, making learning to read a rewarding experience. Celebrating progress creates a supportive environment where mistakes are seen as part of learning.

Be Patient and Persistent

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Every child learns at their own pace, so maintain patience and persistence throughout their reading journey. Please encourage your child’s efforts, celebrate their progress, and provide support whenever needed. Remember that learning to read is a gradual process that requires time and practice. By remaining patient and persistent, you create a positive environment where your child feels supported and motivated to continue their reading habits in the long run.

Make Connections

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Foster comprehension and critical thinking by helping your child relate stories to their experiences. Encourage discussions about how characters’ actions or feelings mirror real-life situations, enhancing their understanding of the world. Whether it’s relating a story about friendship to a playground encounter or connecting a book about animals to a trip to the zoo, these discussions enrich your child’s reading experience and promote a lifelong appreciation for learning and storytelling.

Keep it Positive

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Make sure reading is a positive and enjoyable experience for your child. Encourage their efforts and celebrate milestones, no matter how small. Let them know it’s okay to make mistakes and that learning to read is an exciting adventure. Keeping a positive attitude and fostering a supportive environment, helps your child develop confidence in their reading abilities. 

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