Parents want their children to be strong readers. They see reading ability
as the ticket to a good college and a successful life. The first problem,
however, may be getting children to read at all.
The best way to encourage reading is to make it enjoyable. Like the rest
of us, children are likely to spend more time at activities they enjoy. Then
they excel in those areas that command their time.
Some children, however, have such a strong aversion to reading that they
can't start the upward spiral. Many of the following suggestions for parents
will help these children improve vital comprehension skills--even without
a book in their hands. This can jump-start children's enjoyment of reading--and
lead to improved reading skills.
• Emphasize the importance of communication
by modeling and expecting good listening. Be sure you have your child's
attention before giving important information.
• Encourage your child to talk with you--to share ideas, to
ask questions. Prompt your child in order to probe more deeply or to
clarify thinking.
• Help your child to recognize that things are
not equally important. Help him identify relationships--similarities,
opposites, sequence, cause, examples, etc.
• Make vocabulary study a family activity.
• Do not push young children to read. They may
learn to read using a part of the brain that will stunt reading ability
forever.
• Read. Read to your child, with your child, in
front of your child. Show that you value reading for both information
and enjoyment.
• Read some of the books or topics your child
is reading so you can share ideas.
• If you are reading to or with your child, pause
occasionally to ask questions about the story. Include questions that
don't have right and wrong answers.
• Help your child compare what is read with his
own experience. Look for both differences and similarities.
• If your child enjoys being read to but doesn't
like to read, have him evaluated by a developmental optometrist. A physical
problem might be making reading uncomfortable.
• Lead your reluctant reader to books on topics of interest
to him.
• Ignore oral errors if meaning is correct.
• If your child seems unaware of an error that
changes or destroys meaning, ask at the end of the sentence, "Did
that make sense?"
• Provide a variety of experiences for your child
(these do not all need to cost money). Many comprehension problems arise
because a child lacks background information.
• Do not force your child to read a particular
book.
• Do not require that your child read every word
of a book.
• Encourage your child to have a question in mind
when reading for information.
• Provide practical reading experiences, such
as reading directions or a recipe. Ask your child whether the writing
could have been improved.
• If your child tends to ramble, occasionally
have him stop, identify his main point, and deliver it concisely.
It is important for parents to recognize that decoding is only one of many
skills involved in reading. When children struggle with decoding, parents
must ensure that comprehension skills are nurtured through other avenues
so that the reading difficulty is not compounded. Following the suggestions
on this list will help children enjoy reading material and begin on an upward
spiral to success.
