Fun Strategies for Fostering Reading at Home

Get your child a subscription to an age-appropriate magazine such as Nickelodeon, Ladybug or Highlights. His name on the address label is a personalized invitation to read.

Make Reading an Outdoor Adventure

Take it outside! Read aloud to your child on the front porch, in the backyard, at the park or beach. You can take turns reading. Model reading smoothly and with expression.

Home Library

Encourage reading at home by creating a sitting area with a book case and books at your child's reading level and interest. Organize the books into categories, such as adventure books and books about animals.

Model Dictionary

When reading a book aloud to your child, model the good habit of looking up unfamiliar words in a dictionary. Encourage your child to do the same when she is reading on her own.

Just the Facts

Reporters are taught that every story should answer the questions: who, what, where, when, why and how. Read a newspaper article with your child and then ask him how the reporter answered those questions.

Pre-Read

Ask your child to try "pre-reading" a textbook chapter. Authors put "clues" to the main themes in the introduction, subheads, graphics, photo captions, conclusion and study questions. Reading these first will help your child take better notes and focus on what's important.

Keep in Touch

Once the birthday gifts are all unwrapped, it's time to write thank you notes. This is a great way to practice writing skills. Make it fun by letting your child decorate the card. He can draw, paint, or add stickers or rubber stamps to the notes.

Home Library

Encourage reading at home by creating a sitting area with a book case and books at your child's reading level and interest. Organize the books into categories, such as adventure books and books about animals.

Help Your Child Be an Expert

When your family gets a new board, computer or video game, has your child read the directions, become the expert and teach the rest of the family.