You and your toddler - the need to read

Nothing is as important to academic achievement as the ability to read well - and it’s never too early to start. However, there is more to being a good reader than just being able to read the words accurately. Just as important, is the ability to understand what has been read. Here is a list of ways to help your small children become more effective readers.

Special time – set aside a regular time to read to or with your children every day. Research studies show that reading aloud regularly with your litte ones will produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary and the decoding of words.

Provide what they need - surround your kids with reading material whether bought or borrowed from friends or the local library. Children who are offered a large array of reading material in their homes score higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level. Put the reading materials in cars, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms and even by the TV.

Establish a family reading period – set aside a 15 to 30 minute daily time-slot when everyone in the family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read. Just 15 minutes of daily practice is adequate to increase their reading fluency.

Read everywhere - make reading a fundamental part of your children’s lives. Have them help you read menus, point out road signs, read game directions, weather reports, movie and television time listings, and other practical everyday information. Also, make sure they always have something to read in their spare time - for example when they could be waiting for appointments or riding in a car.

Join the library - entice them to read more by taking them to the library every few weeks to choose new reading material.

Gain knowledge – be informed about your children’s progress. Note what reading skills they are expected to have at each grade level. The school’s curriculum will give you this information. Track their progress in acquiring basic reading skills on report cards and standardized tests.

Be alert – look out for reading problems. Teachers for a variety of reasons do not always detect every child’s reading problem until they have become serious. Find out if your children can sound out words, know sight words, use the right context to identify unknown words and clearly understand what they read.

Get help – if you feel your child has reading problems, make sure he or she receives necessary help from teachers, tutors, or learning centres as soon as you discover an issue.

Variety is the spice of life - to help your children improve their reading, use textbooks, computer programs, books-on-tape and other materials available in stores. Games are especially good choices because they let little ones have fun as they work on their skills.

Reward their efforts – praise will go a long way to encouraging your children to read, however there are many rewards that will motivate them even further and they need not cost very much at all. Consider maybe printing a certificate for them; a quick Google search for ‘reading award’ should result in a few options that you could print and fill in with your child’s name. Stickers are good motivators too and coloring pages are well received as well. At sites like Hello Kitty Coloring Pages you’ll find the best Hello Kitty coloring sheets while little boys would perhaps enjoy the coloring sheets at Pokemon Coloring Pages.

Be interested - show enthusiasm for your children’s reading. Your feedback has a great effect on how hard they will try to become good readers. Be sure to give them genuine praise for their effort.

Reading can expand children’s thinking. Words and books can excite them. Stories can inspire them to create their own works. When you help your child to become a good reader, you are enriching is creativity, his knowledge and his academic future too.