by Jo Ann Wentzel

Created on: March 12, 2011   Last Updated: March 14, 2011

It does not matter if your child reads aloud to himself or to others; it will benefit him greatly by improving reading skills. Every child should learn how to read well as it is a prerequisite for getting into a good college and understanding your studies no matter which school you choose.

Improved reading skills are also a skill that will serve you well throughout your lifetime. A good reader will find themselves ahead in any competition where communication is a requirement. If you are trying to climb the ladder in your job and be considered for promotion, each higher position will have more needs for a great communicator. Good reading skills will be a wonderful asset throughout your career.

But, at the time of childhood, good reading skills will prove useful in getting better grades. You will need to reach a certain level of reading, in most schools, to pass your tests and continue on to the next grade level. If you wish to improve your reading skills, reading aloud will help you hone your skills. Reading aloud for parents or another audience will teach you to hear yourself in new ways. It is very easy to just make up the sound of a word while reading to yourself. You sometimes can get the meaning of a word without knowing what the word sounds like. This means you haven’t really mastered that word.

As a reader, when reading aloud, you are forced to slow down. Many kids love to read so fast that words get garbled. When they read fast, they cannot be understood well and that can really affect their grades.

When you are reading for an audience such as parents, the child is forced to enunciate well since most adults will expect to be able to understand each word and hear it clearly. Enunciation is never learned if a child does not read aloud so others can hear how he pronounces each word.

When a child reads out loud for someone else and stumbles over a word, it often means he does not only know how to say the word. He also does not know what that word means. He may also be unable to correctly spell it which is one reason he does not recognize it.

When helping your children with their homework, occasionally ask them to read something out loud so you can determine if they understand the assignment and what they are reading. It will soon become clear if they are making strides in this subject area of reading or need more help with reading skills.

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