Some Effective Ways to Improve Reading Skills among Children

As soon as children start going to school, parents want that their children learn to read as soon as possible. They work really hard to achieve this significant milestone in their kid’s life. Parents perceive reading ability as the first step of learning and gaining a whole lot of knowledge. The best way to promote reading skills is to make it enjoyable and this gradually helps in a great way to improve childrens reading. It has generally been observed that children tend to learn the activities they enjoy and spend time on.

Nothing is more significant to academic achievement than being an avid reader. Parents understand their children and they need to give the one-on-one time and attention that will ultimately help them to success in reading. However there are various ways which can help children become more effective readers. Studies have shown that reading out aloud to children regularly produces significant results in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words. Whether your children are preschoolers or preteens, it will increase their inclination towards reading independently.

Children surrounded with reading materials in their homes are tempted to pick a book and read. Thus having a good supply of interesting books and magazines at their reading level is an effective way to make children read books. Put the reading materials in cars, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, and even near the TV.

A regular 15 to 30 minute time should be spent as a family reading time together. Seeing parents read greatly encourages children to read. Just 15 minutes of practice every day is adequate to improve their reading fluency. Reading should be made an integral part of children's lives. Encourage them to read menus, roadside signs, game directions, weather reports, movie time listings, and other practical everyday information. Also, assure that they always have something to read in their spare time when they are waiting for doctor’s appointments or riding in a car. This engages them and makes them happy too.

Take library trips with children and involve them in finding books for themselves. This can be done on a weekly basis. The idea of getting new books encourages children to read more. Some libraries also have some book reading programs for children of all ages that may attract the children and further increase their interest in reading activities.

Parents must find out the reading skills that children are expected to have at each grade level. Generally the school's curriculum provides this information. Keeping a track of their progress in acquiring basic reading skills on report cards and standardized tests is also important. Try to find out if children are able to sound out words, know sight words, use context to recognize unknown words, and clearly comprehend what they read. Also assure that children receive the required help from teachers, tutors, or learning centers.

To improve childrens reading skills use of textbooks, computer programs, books-on-tape, and other materials are easily available in stores. Games are particularly good options as they let children enjoy as they work on their skills.