Parent Tips: Reading at Home with your Child

Reading practice at home is invaluable to a child’s development. Research has shown that one-on-one reading time and access to nursery rhymes, fairy tales, chapter books and junior novels are important for future literacy skills. 

Here are some parent tips to help support your child with reading at home.

1. Set up a  time to read (perhaps before going to sleep). 

2. Talk about the pictures, illustrations and content in the book.  Ask comprehension questions.  (What do you think the character will do?)

3. Share different kinds of books (picture story books, chapter books, informational books, magazine articles)

4. Read out aloud with expression. Use silly voices for funny characters to make the story come alive

5. Help your child read and locate the Frequently Used Words that they know

6. Help define new words that they don’t know to build their vocabulary

7. Bring books everywhere! Limit screen time when out and about!

8. If you like an author, choose similar books

9. Read and share your favourite books over and over again and enjoy the experience!