Tips, but not Tricks

There are many websites out there with good information about helping kids to enjoy and be good at reading. Let's pretend we're starting with a very small to early school-aged child.

One good source of tips is I Can Read. (Fair Warning: This is a commercial site and does gently encourage you to purchase their books.) They have sections for parents and families, educators, and activities you can do, all of which promote literacy and skills. For instance:

Have fun reading aloud. When you read books aloud to your children, have fun with the words and the story.

• Try using different voices for different characters—like a high, squeaky voice for a mouse or a low, deep voice for a lion.
• If there are silly sounds in the book, make them sound really silly. Honk, toot, and burble to your heart’s content.
• Let your children participate as much as possible. If there is a phrase that repeats, let them say the phrase along with you. If you’re reading a poem that rhymes, pause before the rhyming words and let them guess what the words will be.

Show your children that words are everywhere. Read with your children wherever you go.

• With younger children, read the words on street signs, store signs, restaurant menus, and cereal boxes.
• With older children, read directions out loud when you are assembling a toy, baking a cake, or installing a ceiling fan. Older children can even help out by reading directions to you as you work. This teaches them that reading is an important part of everyday life.

Play games with words. Here are two simple games you can try:

• Help younger children learn the alphabet by playing “I Spy with My Little Eye” with letters. Can they find a letter “T” at the bus stop? Can they find a letter “C” while walking to preschool?
• Help older children develop their reading skills by playing a silly sentence game. Give them an old magazine or newspaper page to cut up. What silly sentences can they make with the words in the headlines?

Bring home books for your children to enjoy. There are many ways to learn about books that your children might enjoy.

• Ask your librarian for suggestions. Tell him or her about your children’s ages, interests, and reading levels.
• Ask your children’s friends what they have enjoyed reading.
• Think about the books you enjoyed as a child. Your children might like to read or hear their mom or dad’s favorite book. 

I've done most of these with my children at some time or other, and they're not hard--and they do help.

There's not time or space here for me to give you every website that can give you good ideas. I did a web search for "tips to help children become good readers" and came up with loads of good sites. There is some overlap there, of course. 

Some of the strategies may not fit your personality. If you're not a very extroverted person or not comfortable being silly, then using funny voices for characters might not be for you. And if you're uncomfortable, then reading will become stressful for both you and your child. Remember, the key is for reading to be fun!
 
 What do I do for my struggling reader, you ask? Stay tuned for some advice from a successful author.