Learning for Life

Home Reading Tips for Parents

Find out where your child is with their reading.

Speak to your child and their teacher. Often they are capable of reading at a higher level but are either not confident or are struggling with comprehension. Ask your child’s teacher how your child’s reading is tested and if they feel your child is grasping the story (comprehension). 

Use the 5 finger test.

Open the book to any page. Read it out loud. If the child can read all the words then the book is too easy. 1-3 challenging words it is just right, but 4-5 challenge words means that the book might be too hard.

Be involved in the book selecting process.

Many children will choose books that visually excite them or look like familiar subjects, but the text may be too easy or too hard. Books should be engaging and interesting but also help stretch their language knowledge base without being daunting.

Have fun.

Drop the pressure. Find new and exciting ways to engage your child’s reading interest. Make reading fun NOT formal. As your child gets older, remember, it doesn’t matter what they are reading, (just that they are reading). Maybe it’s a comic book or a book about gross topics, maybe a manga or graphic novel – ALL READING IS GOOD READING.

Adapted from https://brisbanekids.com.au/home-reading-tips-parents/

Laura McCarthy

Learning Specialist