Literacy development can begin anywhere, but you can help your child develop literacy skills at home. Taking part in your child’s literacy development can improve an overall interest in reading and can lead to a better attitude towards reading. Below are some ways that you can take an active role in developing your child’s literacy skills.
For younger children
Nursery rhymes are paramount for language development. Setting a time to read aloud to your child every day or playing an audiobook for your child can help increase the language that your child hears. You can also point out words to your kids to see how they sound it out. Maybe have them sound out a word in a newspaper headline to see if they can parse the sounds out.
Labeling objects in your home can also increase literacy, as it shows the importance of language. You can engage in different storytelling exercises with your children as well, telling them the story behind a photo or piece of art hanging in your house. This shows them that background knowledge is just as important as being able to read.
If you speak a different language at home, be sure to speak and read to your children in that language. This will nurture children’s connections at school and can grow their vocabulary. It will also help increase their curiosity towards reading and writing, leading to more opportunities to learn both languages.
For older children
Word games are an excellent way to nurture children’s knowledge of language. Word games can encourage children to learn more about words they don’t quite understand. If you’re reading with your child, focus on words they might not understand. Have them try to guess what the word means by using context clues, learning the root of the word, and checking the prefix and suffix of the word.
Asking children questions about the book before, during, and after reading aloud can help them understand and focus on important details in the text. Before reading a book with kids, you can ask them about the cover and have them guess what will happen in the book based on what the cover is. During reading, be sure to talk about any questions that the child may have about the text. After reading, be sure to let the child sum up what happened in the chapter of the book you read. Let them relate the story back to what your child has experienced in their lives.
For Adolescents
Creating a good relationship for reading is essential for a teenager. You can do this by engaging in conversations, offering a suitable environment for teens to read, and even presenting yourself as a robust role model when it comes to literacy. You can create a nurturing environment for reading by having age-appropriate and grade-level appropriate books for your teen to read. Engaging in conversations about the books that they may be reading in school or for fun is also helpful. You can also be a good role model when it comes to literacy by reading yourself.
These are just a few of the many ways that you can help your child develop strong literacy skills.
Dr. Edward S. Thalheimer is the President and Founder of The Tutoring Franchise Corp. For our part, we here at The Tutoring Center® are continuing to provide one-to-one instruction combined with The Rotational Approach to Learning® to prevent children from slipping through the cracks academically. Our programs help children achieve long-term success, build concentration and focus, and, with our outstanding instructors, find the love of learning. Don’t let your child fall behind this school year. If you’re interested in learning more, visit our website at TutoringCenter.com.