Reading Routine
In our earlier post ‘routines are good’, we said that routines help children learn more skills and acquire them at a faster rate.
One routine that is beneficial for children to have is reading. Reading builds word reading and language skills. It also enhances our bond with our children when we read with them. Additionally, if we start developing an interest in reading in our children from a young age, it can become a meaningful activity they choose to engage in as they grow up.
How does a reading routine build our children’s word reading skills? When we read with them, and point out the words at the same time, it helps them to recognise the sounds and sight of the words. The more times they hear and look at the words, either through us reading to them or they reading themselves, the better they are at recognising the words.
How does a reading routine build our children’s language skills? When we or our children read out the sentences, they are picking up the grammar of the language. They also learn new vocabulary if the words are depicted in pictures or when we explain the meaning of words to them. They do not just learn language through the words in the books but also when we talk to them about the books, for examples, when we ask them questions regarding the pictures or stories of the books, describe the pictures, or talk to them about our personal or their experiences related to the pictures or stories.
If the time spent reading with our children is enjoyable for our children and us, we bond with them. We get to know more about them and they learn more about us too. A strong bond between parents and children is foundational for developing resilience and good behaviours in children.
To build a reading routine for your children successfully, consider the following points:
Start with books that are of interest to your child. Let them choose the books by getting them to pick from the shelf or from 3 or 4 books that you picked up.
Ensure that books chosen are of appropriate level for your child. If your child is choosing books to read on their own, ensure that there are no more than 5 words in a page that they cannot read. The book is considered too difficult for them if there are more than 5 words in a page that they cannot read. Read such books with them instead. If you are reading with them, it does not matter if they cannot read any of the words in the books but it is important that they understand most of what has been read.
Take turn reading or talking about the books, and read the words for your child if they do not know how to read
Avoid pushing your child to read, answer questions or talk about the books if they show that they are having difficulty doing so
Read the books in an interesting manner, especially if your child has little interest in books
Start with short duration of time (e.g., 2 mins or short book) and have the routine at bedtime if your child has little interest in books
If your young child has the tendency to move away when you read with them, bring them back, hold them and quickly read the book to them
Enjoy the reading routine with your child!