Helping Your Children Become Better Readers

Sonal Shah, M.D.

             To succeed, kids need to read.

 · Far too many children are growing up without the reading skills they need to succeed in school and in life.

 · More than 40% of fourth graders read below grade level.

 · Reading aloud to children helps stimulate brain development, yet only 50% of infants and toddlers are routinely read to by their parents.

 · We strongly recommend daily reading to children from six months of age.

 · Clearly, you can make a difference by reading to your children, and making reading an important and pleasurable experience in your home.  Reading with your child not only stimulates the development of your child’s brain, but also fuels the development of a close relationship with your child.

 Here are a few tips for nurturing your growing readers:

1.  Read with your children at least once daily.

2. Make sure they have plenty to read.  Take them to the library regularly.

3. Notice what interests which child, and then help find books about those topics.

4. Praise your children’s efforts and newly acquired skills.

5.  Help your children build a personal library.  Children’s books, new or used, make great gifts and appropriate rewards for reading.

6.  Tell stories.  It’s a fun way to teach values, and build your children’s listening and thinking skills.

 Every child deserves the chance to read and succeed.  By following these simple guidelines you can help your child read better.