Encourage Daily Reading
Research shows that reading every day helps children build reading comprehension, fluency, and vocabulary. Consider these suggestions for supporting your child with daily reading:
- Establish a Routine Designate a specific time for your child to read a book at his or her level for at least 20 minutes every night. For example set aside time for reading after dinner or before bedtime.
- Create a Comfortable Reading Environment Use pillows, lamps and comfortable furniture to set up a cozy reading area in your home. Read your own books there to model good reading habits.
- Incorporate Fast and Fun Reads Use magazines, newspapers, recipes, TV schedules, and road signs as reading opportunities. Incorporate quick reading whenever and wherever you and your child happen to be.
- Share Workplace Reading Bring home materials and documents from your job so your child sees the relevance of reading in the workplace and the long-term importance of becoming a successsful reader.
- Read and Ride Listen to audiobooks while traveling by car so your child hears modeled fluent reading. Bring a CD or mp3 player with headphones for your child to listen to audiobooks while riding in the car.
- Read and Chat Discuss the book that your child is reading. Ask questions such as: What was your favorite part? Who were your favorite and least favorite characters? Can you think of another ending?
