Notes

Tips to Improve Your Child's Reading
Anita Silvey writes in 100 Best Books for Children, "Nothing in a child's intellectual development offers more pleasure or excitement when compared to a good book. Nothing lasts longer in memory than childhood reading experiences. And nothing ensures the success of a child more in society than being read to from infancy through adulthood."

While Silvey's statements may be true, what about children who have problems with and/or who can't stand to read? Reading expert John Jay Pikulski said, "An extraordinary and growing body of authoritative opinion and research evidence shows that reading failure is preventable for all but a very small percentage of children." That is very good news for parents that are frustrated by their children's inattention too books. Attitudes and reading problems usually could be corrected.

But how can parents encourage their children to learn, also to grow to love doing this? And how can parents help their children who may struggle through a good single word?

Kathryn Perkinson, within an article for the U.S. Department of Education, writes that to obtain kids to love reading, you must read aloud in their mind and encourage them to read to you. Reading aloud to children familiarizes them with language and with specific stories. Reading familiar stories, ones children love, will cause them to become try to read those stories for themselves, according to the Reading Recovery Council of THE UNITED STATES.

Reading specialists agree that you should talk to your child about reading, maybe talking about a book you loved as a child or discussing the stories of famous authors or characters, such as for example Dr. Seuss, Lemony Snickett or Harry Potter. (Regarding Harry Potter-or any book converted to a movie-you will make a game out of asking your son or daughter to pay attention to what things differ between the book and the movie and have her to talk about it with you once the movie ends. This will also help develop her critical thinking skills.) Also keep in mind to occasionally ask your son or daughter what they is reading in school, and if he understands it or really wants to talk about the story or novel.

Another idea to instill a love of books and reading is to peruse the library or a bookstore with your child, letting him choose books that look interesting. If your son or daughter gets to pick the subject of the reading material, he is more prone to read. Perkinson writes of the significance of starting a house library. Children that are used to books being a part of their homes and their lives tend to be more apt to read, also to be better readers, than their counterparts from whom books are rare.

Another tip to boost reading can be found on The Family Education Network's website ([http://www.FamilyEducation.com]) to "encourage many different reading activities." Diabetic Neuropathy in the Feet is often as simple as asking your children to learn street signs and billboards, comic books or newspaper comic strips, or even to play spelling games with you. THE HOUSEHOLD Education Network suggests your son or daughter will read better and much more often if books and other things to be read (magazines, comics) are kept handy, especially in the car and other places (while waiting for appointments, in line at the supermarket, etc.) w here your son or daughter might have idle time.

Though Richard Feldman, Ph.D., of Columbia University, agrees everyone should read-and he could be a speed reading expert-he emphasizes that people should read in an effective environment. "Angling your reading material at 45 degrees improves your reading speed and reduces eye strain." Feldman also says it is vital not to read during intercourse, especially for a child who is focusing on his reading skills. Reading in bed makes one more relaxed and not as alert, and this may make it more difficult for beginning or troubled readers to actually read.

Other exercises to do with your kids if they're having issues reading include teaching your son or daughter to listen to the sounds in words, teaching your child to perceive and identify the letters of the alphabet, and teaching your child to recognize (or even memorize) whole words, especially ones that occur often in language. These ideas from the Reading Recovery Council of THE UNITED STATES, in conjunction with the tips mentioned above, will help strengthen your son or daughter's reading skills.

But the most important things to remember in helping your child turn into a better reader is to seek specialized help for reading issues before waiting to see if they become reading problems. As Pikulski says, most reading obstacles could be overcome and future problems prevented with the proper tools and a little work-one both your part as well as your child's.

Recommended Reading for More In-depth Tips (in alphabetical order):

? Improving Reading: Strategies and Resources by Jerry Johns and Susan Lanski (Kendall Hunt Publishing Co.)
? Reading Reflex: The Foolproof Phono-Graphic Method for Teaching Your Child to Read by Carmen McGuinness and Geoffrey McGuinness (Free Press)
? Reading Rescue 1-2-3: INCREASE YOUR Child's Reading Level 2 Grades with this particular Easy 3-Step Program by Peggy M. Wilber (Three Rivers Press)
? See Johnny Read!: 5 Most Effective Ways to End Your Son's Reading Problems by Tracey Wood (McGraw-Hill)

Writer, Editor and Professor Jill L. Ferguson writes on family issues for magazines nationwide. She is the author of the young adult novel Sometimes Art Can't SAVE, as well as co-author of Raise Rules for Women: How to Make More Money at the job and Women Are Changing the organization Landscape: Rules for Cultivating Leadership Excellence.
Website: https://paste1s.com/notes/50YCKY7