How to Teach Your Child to Read Better

Children need good reading skills to help them succeed in academics and beyond. And while your child may have some reading ability, he or she may need assistance improving his or her skills. While improving reading ability cannot be broken down into just a few steps, there are a few things to remember that can get your child on the road to better reading habits, which will improve reading ability.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Turn off the television. Television serves only as a distraction for children who are learning to read or who are learning better reading habits. Turning off the television quiets the learning environment, making it more conducive to concentration and retention.

2. Read with your child. This cannot be stressed enough, especially in a time when parents must work two jobs or more and are away from the house more often. Help him or her to sound out words or understand word meanings.

3. Read aloud to your children. According to Reading is Fundamental, reading aloud to your children not only provides valuable quality time, but also helps your child to gain an appreciation for, and understanding of, how language works.

4. Stress the importance of good reading skills to succeeding in school and work. Children need to understand that what they are learning now will apply in their educations and occupations later. Tell them that they will need good reading skills to pass tests, fill out college admittance forms, complete job applications and learn about the world.

5. Read often. Parents who read often have children who read often, and this can have a positive impact on your child's reading ability and comprehension. It will foster a love for reading in your child, and the more he or she enjoys reading, the more he or she will read.

Tips & Warnings

• Get to know your child. If your child likes television shows filled with mystery and crime fighting, go to the library and find age-appropriate books for your child on those subjects. Talk about what you're reading. Your child may not always understand what you're reading, but he or she will begin sharing what he or she is reading, which will improve his or her communication and critical-thinking skills.
• Don't force your child to read. The last thing you want to do is make your child dislike reading.

References

• Reading Is Fundamental | Parents | Reading Aloud

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