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As a teacher (for 20-plus years now!), many parents have asked the age-old question: "How can I help my child become a better reader?". Though learning styles are as vastly different as the children who possess them, here are some ideas/activities to help improve your child's reading ability.

* Have a family game night. There are games which are made specifically with learning in mind, like Spill and Spell, Scrabble and others, but any game will do. Most board games involve reading cards, directions on the board, instructions and so forth. Even the "go to jail" direction on Monopoly is reading!

*Use a family night out to practice reading. Going out to dinner? Have your child read the menu to you. Even today , when we visit the ice cream shop my children have fun trying to read all of the flavors of ice cream (pistachio, anyone?). A trip to the grocery store can yield all kinds of sight words. Can you read the label on that can? If a child feels as if he/she is helping a parent, it isn't work at all. (Can you help me find the chopped broccoli?)

*Take your children to the library and let them get their own library cards. How exciting when a book is checked out in his/her name! You can also visit a bookstore with your child. Books-a-Million and Barnes and Noble always have interesting displays, posters, and even special activities which will catch a child's eye.

*Read to and with your child often, and let him/her catch you reading! You can read the back of a cereal box with a child, or a newspaper, or a magazine, reading, is reading, is reading, is... You can also subscribe to different high-interest magazines for kids like Sports Illustrated for Kids, Nickelodeon magazine, Disney Magazine, and assorted Comic Books.

*If your child is old enough, guide him/her on the use of the computer! This may seem controversial, but my daughter has become a better reader since setting up a page on MySpace.com. She reads bulletins and surveys and has even learned to do some codes to set up her own layouts. Kids can also play educational games on the computer and go to kid-friendly websites where there is lots to read!

*Cook with your child! Using a recipe card, have the child read the directions, ingredients, and so forth, and supervise the cooking process. (An added bonus is the measurement piece in math is addressed too!)

*If your child enjoys a movie, see if it is based on a book, and read it together with your child. Some examples are Holes, Hoot, Bridge to Terabithia, Old Yeller, Harry Potter, even Spiderman/Batman/Incredible Hulk comic books.

*Have a booknic...it's like a picnic. Take a picnic lunch to a nice park. When the kids are worn out and fed, sit under a shady tree and read. Even just fifteen minutes makes a big difference, and makes reading a pleasant experience.

There are many things you can do to motivate your child to read, and stress its importance. You, the parent, must also be a good role model. Read the newspaper, magazines, or other items. Start a mini-library (Okay, bookshelf) in your house. There is only one way your child will become a better reader, and that is to read, and read, and read. Practice really DOES make perfect (or close to it)!

Learn more about this author, Elise Warren.
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