Thread: Learn to Read Well

As a parent, it is quite natural that you become anxious to know how to help your child learn to read. And to transform your child into a good reader, you do not have to be a great reader. Just follow the simple steps the child naturally develops into good reading and assist with them.

How to assist your child to learn to read?

You have to understand that reading is something which comes to a child step by step. Until the age of six, the child goes through sever steps. And the first among them is an attempt to talk and listen to the response of those around to what he/she says. As time passes, the child would express a desire to listen to stories read aloud to them by the parent. This leads the child to the next step where he starts taking hold of a book and pretend to read. This automatically teaches the child to learn how to handle the book with great care. And he starts expressing a desire to know how books are printed. By this time, the child would have started showing a desire to read on his own and the attempt to recognize the letters starts gaining momentum. Gradually, the child starts differentiating sounds heard and begins to relate to their meanings based on the sounds. This takes the child to the next step, the child starts trying to write, in the beginning through scribbles which fail to carry any meaning. This goes on to the next step, he starts relating what he is familiar to what is being read to him. This follows suit with an attempt to predict the ending of the story being read to him. From here onwards, the development gains real momentum. However, you have to be with every step of this gradual process, encouraging and motivating your child.

A few strategies to help your child learn to read

The best assistive program with this regard is phonics programs which allow the child to relate certain sounds to the words seen printed on the books. Guided reading, the great support a parent can give the child too would go a long way in enhancing your child’s reading skills.
Creating an environment ideal to help your child learn to read is quite simple, however, you would have to take it to the next level, developing the habit of reading as a daily practice And this is sure to be a continuous attempt.