According to Reading Is Fundamental, as of 2009, 33 percent of students in 4th grade read below a basic proficiency level. As time goes on, that gap gets even wider, and by high school, children who started out a little bit behind are even further behind. Literacy is something that affects every measure academic excellence, and if your child is struggling with reading, it is important to take steps to fix the issue. Consider how you can help your child develop the reading skills they need to excel.
Create a Space for Reading
Look at where your child sits. The thing to remember is that for many children, reading is physical activity, and if they are not given the physical support and place for it, they will be less inclined to do it. If your child spends all of their time sprawled on the floor or playing at the computer, consider creating a reading nook for them. A small shelf for their books with a few cushions scattered nearby can make reading a lot more inviting.
Get Them Tested
Jwor.com says, “If your child seems to be struggling with reading, keep a careful eye on it and make sure that you get them tested for a learning disability. Something like dyslexia can set a child’s progress back years and make even the simplest of tasks amazingly frustrating for them.” The sooner a learning disorder is diagnosed, the more effective the solutions will be. Children with learning disorders can grow to love reading as much as other children if they are given the tools to do so.
Get Them Interested
According to Michigan State University, it is best to let children decide what they want to read. If your child seems uninterested in the books available to them, go to the public library to find them books that might be more interesting. Look at the things that they enjoy and find them books that relate to that. Children often have strong passions, and these passions can be used to guide them towards better reading skills.
Read Together
One thing that many children face is that reading is a chore that isolates them. They don’t understand why they would want to read when there are so many more interesting things to do. One way to make sure that things stay interesting for them is to read with them. Twenty minutes of family reading does not take a lot of time out of your day, but it can help your child realize that reading is an enjoyable quiet time to spend with the people they love.
Encourage Them to Read Out Loud
There are many programs out there that bring dogs around so that children can read to them. A child understands that the dog will not criticize them for being too slow, and a dog genuinely enjoys their company. Let your child read to you, or, if that is too stressful for them, allow them to read to a stuffed animal. Reading out loud gives them more focus and helps them gain confidence.
Read and Discuss
Read what your child is reading and discuss what you have read together. Ask them questions about the text, and find out what they thought. Too many children simply think that reading is a solitary experience. If they realize that it is one of the ways that people communicate ideas to one another, you will quickly attract their interest. Be willing to take their opinions seriously, and get their honest imput on what they have read. Offer them your opinions, and let them ask you questions as well. This is a great way to grow together.
When you are someone who is interested in fostering reading skills in your child, take a moment to consider how you can help. Developing reading skills requires time, effort and patience, so give your child all the help that you can.
