Parent Tips for Reading

Reading Tips for Parents Lead to Children Who Are Readers

Children will enjoy reading if parents lead by example. Reading aloud daily is one way to do this. As your child becomes a more fluent reader, she will, in turn, enjoy reading stories to you. At times, TV, hobbies, games may create distractions, and your child may want to forego reading. Be creative and come up ways to get her back on track.

Consider these reading tips for parents:

• Buy bright-colored highlighters for your child to use to mark important information in textbooks. (If she cannot write in the textbook, have her use Post-its® to make notes.)
  
• Read and discuss assigned material with your child.
  
• Talk about reading often. At the dinner table, have family members and guests discuss their favorite books and authors.
  
• Use your child's interests as a hook. For instance, if she plays soccer, get her books on Mia Hamm.
  
• Celebrate reading with family events. Take your child to meet an author at a bookstore signing or read a book together before you see the filmed version.
  
• Look for books on CD or tape and play them while you have an after-school snack,
  
• Take your child to the library, newsstand, and bookstore to browse. Buy books and magazines as often as possible.
  
• Show your children the importance of reading by letting her see you read - books, newspapers, instructions on packages, recipes, magazines, etc.

Using reading tips for parents can establish a stronger bond in the family as you share a common zest for reading. Reading tips for parents also include looking for good resources for reading and learning about approaches to teaching reading. You may have heard the term, balanced literacy. This practice combines a teacher's instruction, e.g. reading aloud, with independent student activities, like self-selected reading. At home, follow the balanced literacy model by reading with your child and scheduling time for her to read independently. Make sure you provide a variety of reading materials.

You may receive useful reading tips for parents by talking with teachers, parents, and librarians. In additional, educational websites offer reading tips for parents. Check out the National Education Association or get a copy of the U.S. Department of Education's Reading Tips for Parents, available in PDF format.