Tips for Reading Successfully with Your Child

According to the National Center for Family Literacy and the U.S. Department of Education, children who are read to three times a week or more are twice as likely to develop the skills necessary for emerging readers. The following are some tips that will help make the reading experience fun and rewarding for both you and your child.

1. Create a comfortable, well-lit environment to share books with your child.
2. Give your child your full attention when reading.
3. Point to words and pictures in the book as you read.
4. Encourage your child to talk and ask questions about the book while you read.
5. Respond to your child’s questions with clear explanations.
6. Read and re-read your child’s favorite books.
7. Encourage your child to read along with you.
8. Connect the story to your child’s everyday life.
9. Support your child’s reading efforts with praise and love.
10. Show your child that you like to read, too. Let your child see you enjoying a book or magazine on a regular basis.

(General source: Bank One Building Readers Project and National Center for Family Literacy)

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