Developing Reading At A Young Age
As we ease into the next school year, there are a few quick and easy ways that parents and caregivers alike can continue to nurture their child’s learning. Reading is a foundational skill that translates across academic subjects. In fact, research shows that a student’s reading level is a significant predictor of academic success. It is so important to begin to foster reading skills at an early age as studies show that early literacy skills can have a great impact on whether your child develops strong reading skills.
Although the task of teaching children how to read may seem like a daunting one, there are many little habits and changes to your child’s environment that caregivers can make that will set their child up for success.
Talk to your child! Literacy skills begin to develop in infancy and are built through the presence of language. Exposure to language is a key factor in the early stages of literacy skills. Reading aloud, singing lullabies and reciting nursery rhymes are all ways that parents can work to build a foundation for later reading skills.
Surround your child with age-appropriate books. Creating a home environment that is rich with reading material is crucial in creating opportunities for your child to read. Reading material should be age-appropriate, meaning that the child should be able to read 95% of the text.
Set aside 30 minutes of your day for reading. Research indicates that children should be reading at least 30 minutes per day. These 30 minutes can include such reading activities as listening to an adult read or reading aloud to an adult and discussing the content in order to develop comprehension skills. Literacy skills are fostered when adults encourage children to actively participate in the story by eliciting questions and responses rather than passively listening.
Taking your child to the library, sharing your love of literature and exposing your child to plenty of language can make a huge difference in your child’s future. Making sure to cater to your child’s interest will make reading all the more fun. If your child loves legos, find Lego books that will spark your child’s curiosity and enthusiasm towards reading. We have provided this infographic in both English and Spanish that can serve as a reminder of simple ways to make sure that your child becomes a lifelong reader!
