| Most parents do more than they realize to support | | | | immeasurable. Good attention from a parent is |
| their child's journey toward reading. In this article I hope | | | | irreplaceable in building a child's self-esteem and |
| to reinforce what you are already doing and add to a | | | | confidence. It tells him that he is a communicator with |
| few more ideas to your repertoire with specific | | | | something worthwhile to say. These are your child's |
| suggestions that go beyond the oft repeated: "Read to | | | | first and most important lessons. |
| your child." As our children leave their toddler years | | | | Few children have access to adult attention every |
| and head into pre-school and then kindergarten, at | | | | minute of every day, but the good news here is that |
| some point most parents feel a twinge of anxiety as | | | | lots of important learning happens independently. To |
| they wonder "When will my child learn to read?" | | | | facilitate this learning, when your child complains of |
| Parents who had a difficult time mastering reading | | | | boredom you can tell her to "Go read a book." Her |
| themselves might be particularly nervous about their | | | | response might be "But I don't know how to read." To |
| child's success at reading. Every parent wants the | | | | which you can say: "Try having fun looking at the |
| transformation from non-reader to reader to go | | | | pictures and words" or "You can look at the pictures |
| smoothly for their child, (truthfully, we want | | | | and tell your own story." Encourage your child to read |
| EVERYTHING to go well for our children) and there | | | | to stuffed toys or other non-real friends, and when |
| are many things parents can do to facilitate the | | | | you hear her chattering away in an empty room, just |
| learning of this essential skill. The bottom line is that | | | | smile and know she's practicing her language skills. |
| children enter school with very different previous | | | | Preschoolers will look at books independently if the |
| experience. Studies show that one child in a class may | | | | books are interesting and accessible, so make sure |
| have had over 1,000 hours of exposure to print while | | | | your child has a selection of books in her room, some |
| another may have had 0-10 hours. One child may have | | | | in the playroom and a few favorites next to the potty. |
| heard over 2,000 words per hour, while another has | | | | Strategic placement of eye-catching or familiar books |
| heard only 616. This makes a huge difference when | | | | invites young pre-readers to engage in reading-like |
| predicting which child will be a successful reader. | | | | behavior. Some children will be happy to read alone, |
| Reading trajectories are established early and children | | | | but you may need to keep a few books tucked away |
| on low trajectories tend to stay on those trajectories | | | | in the kitchen, for those children who still prefer to |
| and fall further and further behind in school. Despite a | | | | spend most of their time right under your feet! |
| great early start, some students still struggle with | | | | Just as there are things you can do to support your |
| reading, in the upper grades. It is important for parents | | | | child's journey towards reading, you can inadvertently |
| to know that all children can learn to read, though | | | | impede this process. Some words of caution: Be sure |
| some may need specialized instruction from an expert | | | | not to make comments that may create anxiety |
| reading teacher. This means they learn differently NOT | | | | around the process of learning to read. Don't mention |
| that they are less intelligent. Smart kids can have | | | | reading (or academic) difficulties you, your spouse or |
| difficulty learning to read, but with proper support and | | | | another sibling experienced. Don't refer to the process |
| instruction, they will become readers. | | | | as "hard". If children worry, as many inevitably will, that |
| Supporting Your Pre-School Child | | | | they'll never learn to read, you can respond with a |
| Indeed, reading to your child and talking with your child | | | | comment like one of these: |
| are the cornerstones of his learning. It is never too | | | | - It may seem hard right now, but you are still little. |
| early to begin reading to your child. Don't worry about | | | | - I'm sure you'll be a wonderful reader some day. |
| variety. Reading and re-reading the same few books | | | | - When you go to school you'll have teachers whose |
| hundreds of times (long after you've memorized them), | | | | job it is to teach you how to read. |
| provides important language experience. Equal in | | | | - As you get older it will get easier and easier. |
| importance to reading is talking with your child, | | | | - Enjoying books is an important part of learning to |
| especially in the early years when a child spends most | | | | read, and you really love your books! |
| of his time with one adult. Talk to your child about the | | | | Finally, so much wonderful literature is now available on |
| world around him, what he sees, smells, hears, tastes | | | | tapes and CD's. A great way to enjoy a well-told |
| and feels. Tell him the plan for the day, what you | | | | story is to listen to E.B. White reading one of his |
| expect of him, whom you will see, etc. Build | | | | classics: "Charlotte's Web" or "Trumpet of the Swan". |
| conversational skills by listening to your child speak | | | | "The Little House on the Prairie" series is also available, |
| without offering corrections regardless of the logic or | | | | as are many others in your local library. These are |
| truth of his words, or the accuracy of his pronunciation. | | | | especially good for long car rides and when enjoyed |
| These conversations build language skills, vocabulary, | | | | by the whole family, provide opportunities for sharing |
| comfort, and confidence, and help form a bond | | | | and talking in ways that may not happen otherwise. |
| between you and your child. Also, spend as much time | | | | Maintaining a relaxed attitude of invitation and fun is the |
| as you can manage giving your child your undivided | | | | key to creating positive, optimistic feelings about |
| attention. With so many other demands on our time | | | | learning to read. |
| this can be a formidable challenge, but the benefits are | | | | |