How to Strengthen your Child's Foundational Skills in Reading

Reading is one of the most vital skills that a child should learn and develop during their early years. Reading skills are necessary to set them on the path to success in school and beyond. As a parent, you can help your child start on the right foot by building their foundational reading skills at home and incorporating it into their daily routine.

Whether or not your little one has already been reading independently there are several ways you can help strengthen their foundational skills in reading. Read on and follow these eight tips!

Start with the basics

Teach your child the basic concepts of reading. Start with being familiar with the alphabet, letter sounds, and simple words. These are essential in building their foundation in reading. Feel free to use a variety of materials. Use books, flashcards, apps, or even everyday items to help them learn. The important thing is to make it fun and interesting for them.

Practice, practice, practice

The more your child practices, the better they will get at reading. Carve out time each day to read together. You can take turns reading stories aloud or have your child read silently to themselves. You can also do activities that reinforce the skill of reading, such as word searches, crosswords, or bingo.

Also, practicing reading doesn't always mean sitting down and opening a book. Sometimes, it can be as simple as getting your child to read as much text as possible. For example, you can ask them to read the store signs along the road while you drive. Or better yet, let them be in charge of the grocery list and have them read it out loud while you shop.

Incorporate reading into daily activities

Make reading part of your child's daily routine by incorporating it into everyday activities. For example, you can ask them to read the recipe when cooking together or the instructions when building a toy. This will help normalize reading and make it seem like a natural activity that they can do every day.

Encourage them to read aloud

Another way to practice reading is by encouraging your child to read aloud. This will help develop their phonemic awareness, which is essential in being able to read words correctly. It also allows you to listen to their progress and correct them.

Set a good example

As a parent, you are your child's number one role model. Be a good one and set the right example by reading regularly yourself. This will show your child that reading is important to you, but it will also motivate them to want to read more.

Instead of spending your weekend nights binge-watching the latest TV show, why not curl up with a good book? You can also join a book club or visit the library together.

Give them praise and encouragement

When your child does something well, be sure to praise and encourage them. This will help boost their confidence and make them want to continue doing good things. The same goes for reading; give them positive reinforcement when they read well. This will not only encourage them, but it will also urge them to do better next time.

Get them excited about reading

Make reading fun and exciting for your child by letting them choose the books they want to read. This will help spark their interest and motivation to read more. Also, don't forget to praise them when they do well and offer encouragement when they make progress.

Make use of technology

In this day and age, there are a lot of educational resources available online. Make screen time educational and productive by using online tools to help your child learn how to read. There are websites, apps, games, and even e-books that are designed to help children with their reading skills.

Following these tips can help your child build a strong foundation in reading. Just remember to be patient and consistent in your efforts. With a little bit of time and practice, your child will be well on their way to becoming a confident reader!

At Mrs. Myers' Learning Lab, we specialize in fun, interactive classes for developing readers. Our engaging process leads to students gaining self-confidence, interpersonal skills, and a love for learning that extends far beyond the classroom.