There’s no right or wrong way to support a child with any of their endeavours but there are some tried-and-tested techniques you can learn that will help you help them. This is certainly the case with literacy and one area where parents and carers can really support classroom-based teaching is reading. What’s more, it can be an absolute joy to share “storytime” with a little one who’s only just getting used to what reading can offer.
Get to Grips With Phonics
The first thing to know about reading is the way that it is taught in nearly every British school nowadays. The whole approach focuses on phonics, which focuses on the sounds we make when we speak. Since letters and letter combinations – generally speaking – conform to certain sounds, children are taught to identify what sounds the letters in words are likely to make when spoken. This way, the theory goes, they can sound out words even if they don’t recognise them immediately, working out what any combination of letters on the page might mean. This sort of classroom activity is often best supported by the use of phonics toys, educational aids that help children identify letters and their associated sounds more easily.
Create an Empowering Reading Routine
When it comes to supporting reading, understanding phonics is one thing but that’s far from the only technique you ought to focus on. Creating a daily routine is also important. In busy households, this isn’t always easy, so many parents will use their bedtime routine to include some time spent with age-appropriate books. Reading a book aloud to your child is often a pleasure but get your child involved. Ask them questions about the story of the pictures that might illustrate it. Get them to follow along with you, identifying when the page might need to be turned and so on. Give kids the chance to choose a book they want to read, too. They’ll feel more empowered in their reading if everything isn’t mandated for them.
Realise the Importance of Re-Reading
There are many reasons why rereading books with kids is good. Far from simply going over old ground that’s already been covered, re-reading helps children to cement their knowledge. What’s more, it is something that can be reassuring. When a child is being stretched at school, returning to an old favourite book at home can put them back in their comfort zone with reading, so they don’t get put off. Note, too, that research suggests re-reading is a strong vocabulary builder. When children read a book two or three times, they understand its content better each time, acquiring the confidence to use the words they’ve been reading in other contexts.
Conclusion
In the end, supporting reading is one of the activities that parents should enjoy. Fun books with jokes or adventure stories can be a joy for parents to re-experience with their children. Don’t feel pressured about how to do it. The most important thing is that you give it a go and spend time with your child and books, no matter their current level of literacy.