How to Help Your Child Read in 10 Creative Steps

January 10, 2020

Help Your Child Read

Helping your children learn how to read is one of the most impactful ways to spend quality time with them. 

Using alternative teaching methods is a great way to keep your children engaged and focused during homework time or at-home lessons. Take a look at some of the ways to add a bit of fun to your child’s reading routine.

1.  Turn Reading Into a Game

Young children are intuitive, smart, and often headstrong when it comes to completing tasks they perceive to be required. Even if your kids enjoy reading time, they might become restless and unfocused if the exercises become too repetitive. 

Incorporating games into your reading routine will keep your kids’ attention, while also helping them to develop good habits early on.

2.  Let Your Child Choose the Lesson

One of the quickest ways to make children disinterested in a particular task is to take away their ability to provide input. Kids like to exercise their opinions like the rest of us, and this can also apply to homework.

Empower your children by allowing them to lead the lesson. Providing them with a few different choices before beginning each lesson will give them learning independence and help them exercise their critical thinking skills.  

3.  Get a Change of Scenery

A change in the environment can kickstart any routine. Whether you’re in a slump with your workout, diet, or even day job – switching up the scenery is the perfect way to recharge.

Although they thrive in stable environments, children also benefit from regular changes in their typical surroundings.

Even small adjustments can make a large difference, such as:

  • Reading outside
  • Putting up posters of their favorite stories
  • Dressing up as book characters
  • Picking a different room
  • Going to a new location, such as a coffee shop or park

If your child seems less interested than usual in reading time, consider setting the stage in a different way.

4.  Explore Different Libraries

If you’re helping your young child to read, libraries are your best friend. They’re free, quiet, and readily available in most cities.

In many cases, local libraries are part of a county-wide network. This means that membership to one branch gives you access to other locations.

Take advantage of your library card by visiting a new branch for your child’s next reading lesson.

libraries are your best friend

5.  Join a Family Reading Club

If your child seems to be resistant to learning how to read, the good news is you are likely not alone. Other parents who are experiencing the same issues may be interested in forming a book club.

Typically, members of a reading club agree on a book every week or every month and come together to talk about it. This is an ideal forum for addressing questions, or opening discussions about the reading material.

Not only are book clubs fun, but they can provide structure and organization to your reading schedule by setting the group’s expectations.

6.  Start a Book Collection

What better way to make your children fall in love with reading than by curating their favorite stories? Building a book collection will have your kids running to the shelves every day (even for bedtime).

Creating a book collection is as simple as designating an area for your new library. A bookcase, desk, or even a few shelves on the wall is all you need to start. Then, just keep adding!

7.  Make Storybook Crafts

Hands-on activities are an easy and fun way to help your kids connect with what they’re learning. Crafts and tactile tasks also provide another level of interaction than can help children better understand what they’re reading and processing.

Here are a few fun activities to add to your kids’ reading routine:

Adding a new medium into your child’s at-home education plan will reinforce their love for learning while utilizing all of their strengths

8.  Keep a Predictable Schedule

While variety is the spice of life, children also love predictability. Having a set schedule helps them feel secure and gives them the ability to build habits.

The same goes for at-home reading, even if it’s only a few minutes a day. Your kids will learn to expect reading time, and it’ll soon become a part of their daily routine. 

9.  Practice Different Reading and Study Methods

All children do not learn in the same way, and this is an important factor to consider when building a reading plan with your kids. Changing up your tutoring tactics can do wonders for your child’s reading performance.

There are a ton of different and unique ways to help your kids learn how to read:

  • Magnetic alphabet tiles
  • Calligraphy vocabulary practice
  • Salt or flour spelling
  • Alphabet-shaped foods
  • Spelling with clay or play dough
  • Typing reading notes on a computer, typewriter, or other device

A few new elements into your study routine will challenge your kids, while adding a bit of a surprise too. 

 10.  Use Technology to Help Your Child Read

One of the best ways to ensure that your children are fully absorbing their reading lessons is to throw technology into the mix. Using a mobile reading tutor app to build your child’s reading abilities will help them excel inside and outside of school.

If your child is not reading at their respective reading level, using a mobile reading program will help them learn how to read fluently, independently, and with confidence.

For a creative reading resource, try ReadabilityTutor for free and help your children improve their reading in just 90 days.