How to Help a Child Overcome Reading Difficulties

Helping your child learn to read is one of the greatest gifts a parent can offer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Children's Books
• Alphabet Stencils
• Alphabet Games
• Alphabet Letters
• Alphabet Stampers
• Phonics Games

1. Read! Set aside time every day to read with your child whether your child is 5 years old or 15. Read to your child and have your child read to you. Read the same favorite book over again. Point out repeated phrases or words that rhyme and have the same letter patterns. Listen to books on tape. Have books available for your child at all times.
2. Point out words when you are out and about. Make up car games such as asking your child to find the word "stop" as many times as possible. Look for words starting with "br" or "sh" while shopping in the grocery store. Find a word and think of as many words or made-up words that rhyme with it. Read billboards, bumper stickers - anything with printed words is fair game for reading.
3. Show your child the relationships between words. Make lists of words that have the same beginning, ending or vowel combinations. When you child is spelling or reading and has difficulty with a word, refer to the list. Say things like, "That word looks a lot like 'bat.' Try putting a 'c' where the 'b' is;" or, "How do you spell 'duck'? What sound does 'truck' start with?"
4. Teach letter sounds. Make the sound that is associated with a letter. Play guessing games where you make the sound and your child names the letter or letter combinations. For example, "rrrr" = r; "guh" = g. Say simple words, such as "big," and have your child guess the vowel sound in or the beginning or ending of the word. When your child has a problem reading or spelling a word, help your child sound it out or remind your child to sound out the word. Say things like, "What sound starts the word? OK, write that letter;" or, "What letter starts the word? What sound does that letter make?"
5. Look for small words inside bigger words. The word "fantastic" has two small words, "fan" and "tic" in it. Ask your child to find small words, pronounce them and then add the other letter sounds to make the big word.

Tips & Warnings

• Teach your child the letters of the alphabet, in both capital and lower cases, as soon as your child can talk and manipulate letter toys.
• Buy letter stamps or stickers, markers or paints, and letter sponges to add variation to your reading practice and to make it fun.
• Making practice into a game will be more fun for your child and will help your child retain the lesson more easily.
• Know when to give your child a break. Your child knows reading is difficult, and spending every minute practicing will frustrate and upset your child.