Reading - Information for Parents

Reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do, no matter how old they are.

• Be a role model. Let your child see you enjoying reading – whether it’s the newspaper, a magazine, a comic, a cook book or a novel.
• When you are reading to your child, you can talk about words or ideas in the text that your child might not have come across before.
• Children are often interested in new words and what they mean – encourage them to look them up in a dictionary
• Have discussions together about books – read the books your child is reading.
• Encourage Internet research about topics of interest – notice what they are keen on.
• Make your home a reader-friendly home with plenty of books, magazines, newspapers that everyone can read – look for books and magazines at fairs and second-hand shops.
• Ask your family or friends if they have any they no longer want.
• Share what you think and how you feel about the characters, the story or the opinions in magazines and newspapers you are reading.
• It is important that your child sees you as a reader and you talk about what you are reading.
• Help your child identify an author, character or series of books they particularly like and find more in the series or by the author.
• Talk about the lyrics of songs or the words of poems your child is learning.
• Think about subscribing to a magazine on your child’s special interest, e.g., animals or sport, or check out the magazines at the library, or on the Internet.
• Go to your local library to choose books together. These might be books your child can read easily by themself. They might be books that are a bit hard, but your child wants to read so you can help by reading a page to them, then helping them read the next.
• Play card and board games together – the more challenging the better.

• 10 top tips for parents to support children to read - from the Department for Education

  Encourage your child to read

• Reading helps your child’s wellbeing, develops imagination and has educational benefits too. Just a few minutes a day can have a big impact on children of all ages.

  2. Read aloud regularly

  Try to read to your child every day. It’s a special time to snuggle up and enjoy a story. Stories matter and children love re-reading them and poring over the pictures. Try adding funny voices to bring characters to life.

  3. Encourage reading choice

  Give children lots of opportunities to read different things in their own time - it doesn’t just have to be books. There’s fiction, non-fiction, poetry, comics, magazines, recipes and much more. Try leaving interesting reading material in different places around the home and see who picks it up.

  4. Read together

  Choose a favourite time to read together as a family and enjoy it. This might be everyone reading the same book together, reading different things at the same time, or getting your children to read to each other. This time spent reading together can be relaxing for all.

  5. Create a comfortable environment

  Make a calm, comfortable place for your family to relax and read independently - or together.

  6. Make use of your local library

  Libraries in England are able to open from 4 July, so visit them when you’re able to and explore all sorts of reading ideas. Local libraries also offer brilliant online materials, including audiobooks and ebooks to borrow. See Libraries Connected for more digital library services and resources.

  7. Talk about books

  This is a great way to make connections, develop understanding and make reading even more enjoyable. Start by discussing the front cover and talking about what it reveals and suggests the book could be about. Then talk about what you’ve been reading and share ideas. You could discuss something that happened that surprised you, or something new that you found out. You could talk about how the book makes you feel and whether it reminds you of anything.

  8. Bring reading to life

  You could try cooking a recipe you’ve read together. Would you recommend it to a friend? Alternatively, play a game where you pretend to be the characters in a book, or discuss an interesting article you’ve read.

  9. Make reading active

  Play games that involve making connections between pictures, objects and words, such as reading about an object and finding similar things in your home. You could organise treasure hunts related to what you’re reading. Try creating your child’s very own book by using photos from your day and adding captions.

  10. Engage your child in reading in a way that suits them

  You know your child best and you’ll know the best times for your child to read. If they have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) then short, creative activities may be the way to get them most interested. If English is an additional language, encourage reading in a child’s first language, as well as in English. What matters most is that they enjoy it.

   

• Encourage your child to complete Activities for Responding to Reading (see links below).