by Lokemun Magar

Created on: August 11, 2007   Last Updated: December 27, 2008

Family activities can certainly help to improve reading in children, even if the parents are not fluent or avid readers themselves. It can take a late developer up eight years to become an independent reader. Parents may want to involve themselves personally in this aspect of development in order to figure out the learning gaps to ensure reading progress.

The following reason may be why some children seem not able to read at later stages although they could do so in kindergarten. Some children are not able to read, so a teacher puts them next to a buddy who patiently reads the same book to them many times. Unknown to all except a handful who know them well enough, these children are not reading but can memorize the whole book that is read to them many times. They can fool their teachers and perhaps their parents, that they can read when instead they have memorized the whole book word for word.

A quick test to use to determine if a child can read is to randomly select words for him to read. He may become visibly stressed out beyond words because he cannot read out of the context he has memorized the words in. You will be surprised that some children can actually memorize a complete story word for word without being able to read a single word of the written form.

Living near the zoo and night safari or any favorite haunts in the same vicinity is a plus factor for families helping a non-reader venture onto the road to reading. Parents can get their child to read the signages to go to his favorite animal, for example. He will soon remember the way and some words, so much so that even if the family traces the route the other way around, he would have all the places at his finger tips.

Here are other ways that not only increases the love for reading in children but improve family ties as the family read together.

1. Never never ever force reading upon a child or use it as a punishment. 'Go to your room and read!' should NEVER be uttered for a child's refusal to finish his supper.

2. Reading is closely related to talking and listening. Have a regular read with your child. Bedtime is the best if you are also trying to give your child the confidence to sleep by himself. Make sure you have nothing to distract the precious and sacred moments you spend together. Moreover, you may quote the time to sleep at the more exciting moment and you will find your child wanting to read on.

3. The first books you expose to a first timer must have real life photographs or pictures with just

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>