Learning and Teaching

The Power of Reading Aloud: A Message for Families from Prep to Year 6

Reading is one of the most valuable skills our children will ever learn, and while many of us understand the importance of nightly reading, it’s easy to assume that once a child can read independently—especially in the middle and senior years of primary school—they no longer need to read aloud or be read to. However, the benefits of reading aloud continue well beyond the early years, and supporting this habit at home can make a significant difference to your child’s learning journey.

Reading aloud is a powerful tool—for both children and adults. When parents read aloud to children, they model fluency, expression, and thinking processes that help children understand and enjoy more complex texts. Equally important is giving children the opportunity to read aloud to you. Of course we know this for our Prep-Year 2 students. 

But why do we often stop there? For children in Years 3–6, reading aloud helps strengthen fluency, pace, expression, and comprehension. It also allows parents to hear how their child is progressing, identify unfamiliar vocabulary, and prompt meaningful discussions about the story, characters, and ideas presented in the text.

These moments provide opportunities to unpack challenging words, explore the meaning of the story, and support deeper understanding. They also give insight into whether a child is selecting books that are a “good fit”—not just those that are easy, fun, or trendy. While books such as joke books, comics, or popular series like The Treehouse Collection are great for building reading enjoyment, they should be balanced with texts that offer rich vocabulary, meaningful plots, and strong character development. Children benefit from a wide range of texts that stretch their thinking and language skills.

As Gambrell and Almasi (1996) suggest, we should encourage books that invite children to respond with enthusiasm and understanding—texts with compelling characters, rich language, and engaging illustrations. When a text is more challenging, it’s the perfect opportunity for parents to step in and read aloud to their child. This creates a shared learning experience where parents can “think aloud”—showing children how fluent readers make connections, solve problems, and reflect as they read.

For example, reading about a character planting a garden with a grandparent might remind you of your own experience, which can be shared aloud. These connections help bring the story to life and encourage your child to make their own links between books and their lived experiences. Reading aloud together also builds vocabulary, empathy, and background knowledge—key ingredients for lifelong learning.

In our fast-paced world, it can be tempting to let devices or busy routines take over. But carving out time to listen to your child read, and to read to them, is more than just a bedtime ritual—it’s an investment in their literacy and learning. Whether it’s five minutes or twenty, every shared reading moment helps build confidence, connection, and curiosity.

Let’s continue to nurture the love of reading in all year levels, remembering that reading aloud is not just for Prep students—it’s for everyone. Together, we can support our children to become thoughtful, fluent, and passionate readers for life.

Mrs Wickens and Mr Mosele 

(Learning and Teaching)