Teaching your little ones to read is a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating process. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with handing over the responsibility to your children’s teachers, but giving them a helping hand and teaching your little ones the joys of reading can set them up for life, and allow them to become well-rounded, curious learners that go on to achieve great things. Despite what some people may think, learning to read isn’t a natural process: it requires a number of skills, strategies, and consistency. We’ve put together some tips below.
Start with songs and nursery rhymes
Perhaps one of the best ways to get started with reading is to use songs and rhymes - children hear sounds and syllables and will, in time, associate those with letters and words. Clap rhythmically when you’re singing or reading a poem; it can be good fun and helps your little ones develop literacy skills that will eventually allow them to become strong readers.
From Baa, Baa, Black Sheep and Georgie Porgie to Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush and Hey Diddle Diddle, there are so many classic rhymes and stories that you can read and sing to your children. Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is a real favourite at Everything’s Rosie!
Say goodbye to the iPad
Although tablets and smartphones can be great tools for learning, we think that learning to read should be done primarily with paper. From books to posters, labels, and charts, there are lots of ways to ensure your children are exposed to text throughout the day. When you are travelling, be sure to point out letters on posters and signs, and ask if they recognise them. “What is that letter?” you might ask. Repeated activities and positive reinforcement will give your child the confidence they need to expand their minds and become great readers.
Play reading games
Another way to encourage reading is through repetition and interactive activities such as reading games. A treasure hunt, for example, could involve you writing down basic clues like ‘blue’ or ‘bathroom’. Get friends involved and they can learn to read together and have some fun at the same time. Word-based snakes and ladders is another good option - write words that your little one can read on all 100 squares of the board, but have everyone read out the words as they pass them. They’ll learn words by visual identification and if they are stuck on a particular word (knock, for example) you can give them some clues. Word flip books can also be fun: start off with simpler words and sounds and add in some pictures if necessary.
Remember to be patient
Finally, remember that everyone learns at their own pace. Though it’s natural to get a little frustrated when nothing seems to happen, the truth is that the more your children are exposed to words and sounds, the sooner they’ll learn to read. Read to them regularly - add it into your nighttime routine - and consider mixing things up by trying out different activities and experimenting with different stories. This will give them the tools and experience they need to start reading from home - and whatever they do at school will further benefit them.
There are lots of kids’ read-along books available for free on the Everything’s Rosie website. Check them out and let us know if they help your little ones learn to read. We’d love to hear from you and learn whether you have any particular strategies to inspire young learners.