I had problems reading when I was a kid. I think it had a lot to do with transitioning from one culture to another. Even though English is our national language in Jamaica, there are still a lot of differences between my home country and the United States. For example, some words are pronounced differently because the accents may be on different syllables. Needless to say, I was never a huge fan of reading aloud. In order to teach your child to read, have a routine in place. My husband and I read to our kids every night.
It took me some time, but I eventually mastered reading. Now that I have children, it’s important to help them to read. That said, here are a few tips to help your child to read.
5 Tips for Teaching Your Child to Read
Repetition. One of the best ways to learn how to read is through doing it over and over again. Singing, talking, reading with your child throughout the day will build language skills to make them good readers, writers, and speakers. There free resources online such as ling-app.com/learn-nepali/ that provides comprehensive language lessons.
Memorization. Many kids actually begin reading as babies by memorizing nursery rhymes, poems, Nursery rhymes songs, and stories. This put them at an advantage when they begin elementary school. A flashcard generator is a great visual to help them memorize the alphabet.
Writing. Whether it’s writing their name or Christmas cards, writing is a great way to teach kids how to read. Once you’re finished writing, talk about what they’ve written. I received my first diary in the second grade. Writing in it everyday helped me become a better reader.
Have a message center. We actually have one in our kitchen. That’s also where we leave the children’s artwork. Leaving notes on a bulletin board or message center will get kids in the habit of reading.
Leave surprise notes. I began leaving notes of encouragement in my daughter’s lunchbox to help lift her spirit. When she didn’t see it the following day, I realized how much of an impact that little note had. Now, I place a note with her lunch everyday and she looks forward to reading it.