Child Reading Activities

Preparing a young child to become a good reader is to lay a foundation of future successes for the child. Any child reading activities that the family can help with when it comes to working with younger children will help set a natural reading environment that will start the child's reading habits off on a prosperous path. 

There a several reading activities and steps that you as a parent and the other members of your family can take to help insure success in your young reader. First of all, I believe that for young readers to truly enjoy the time spent reading and to get the most out of what they read, they have to develop a good solid vocabulary no matter at what age. Vocabulary activities should go hand in hand with the reading activities for your child. You should make it a point to continually expose your child to a steady diet of language rich conversation throughout the day. Of course with younger children the sentences should be shorter and simpler, but nonetheless, each day new words should be introduced and encouraged.  

Much of this can be accomplished through story telling and even songs. Converse with your child often and listen to the words that they use when they speak. Have your child paraphrase back to you and tell you about a story or even a page that they just read. Stay in tune to their vocabulary and the level of understanding they have about which they just read.  

Make it a habit to read aloud to your children for at least 30 minutes everyday. Start when they are infants. Good reading habits are just that... habits. Make sure you do this. 

Take time to go to your library on a regular basis and make the trips fun and enjoyable. Set aside a place in your home or your homeschool classroom where you child can have their own reading area and library. Help them organize and decorate the area as well. Subscribe your child the a couple children's reading magazines and watch grow into an area your child loves to go read.  

Limit the amount of television. Aside from the very marginal content that television offers, on of the real damaging aspects of television is that it is such a passive activity both physically and mentally for any child. Replace television with a good reading activities, be it story time, reading aloud to your child, or you child curled up in their favorite reading area with their favorite story. Remember you are the greatest role model your child has.  

And finally, be sure to have your child's eyes and ears tested early and annually.  

Hope this is helpful. Have fun reading with your child!