Developing good reading habits and skills from an early age is key to creating a lifelong love of reading in children. Sometimes, however, kids need a little extra help when they start to lose interest or fall behind in their reading skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, according to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report<\/a>, most children will experience a phenomenon called the Decline by Nine, where their interest in reading wanes at age 9. The good news is, there are ways that parents can help their children not only increase reading levels at home, but become avid and voracious independent readers at any age. All it takes is some planning, a few good tips, and a whole lot of excitement for reading! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are top tips from teachers Wandiza Williams, Leana Malinowsky, and Kris Hart on how to help your child advance their reading skills when they need extra support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Identify the Signs <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing and recognizing when your child is struggling is the first step to remedying the problem. \u201cHave kids do the Five Finger Rule to help them determine if a book is a good fit,\u201d says Williams. \u201cStudents will go into the middle of the book, begin reading a page, and put a finger up for every word they don’t know. If they have five fingers up by the end of the page, that is an indication that this book may be too challenging to read independently \u2014 but could be a good choice for a shared reading or read-aloud.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you become familiar with your child\u2019s unique reading needs, you can reach out and communicate with their teacher for next steps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen children struggle to read or become embarrassed in front of their peers because they see them as higher readers, they can become discouraged and stop trying,\u201d says Hart. \u201cYou will notice as they start to dislike reading at night. They might struggle with some words but don\u2019t try to sound them out or figure out their meaning.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best things you can do is develop a relationship with their teacher, says Hart. Check in with them to see how your child is doing in class. Are they avoiding reading, fake reading, etc.? Don\u2019t rely solely on test scores \u2014 their reading habits in class will help you get a full picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the underlying cause of reading struggles is dyslexia. Screening for dyslexia requires a trained expert: The best way to get help and guidance is by connecting with your child’s school district for support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Ask Questions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask your child questions before, during, and after reading. Questions should be within the text (so they can find the answer in the book), about the text (they can answer considering what was read, but these questions also require critical thinking), and beyond the text (they can make connections to other books, experiences, subjects in school, and so forth for these higher-order thinking questions), according to Malinowsky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Find out the seven best questions to ask during story time here. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Come Up with a Routine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you set aside time to read after school, before meals, or right before bedtime, coming up with a reading routine<\/a> that works best for your family is key to improving reading skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSet aside quiet time for the whole family to read, even if only a few days a week,\u201d says Malinowsky. \u201cReading aloud should be encouraged. Have siblings read to each other, or have your child read to a grandparent. The whole family can be involved!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Be Consistent<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Practice, practice, practice! Consistency is still key to improving reading levels. \u201cOne of the biggest factors in improving reading is to get kids to read,\u201d says Williams. \u201cThe biggest determining factor in keeping kids interested in reading is choosing books they like even when a book is challenging. If they really want to read it, they will persevere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Find Their Interests<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report<\/a>, children are more likely to want to continue reading when they\u2019re given the freedom to choose what they want to read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSupport striving readers by encouraging them to choose books they would like to read,\u201d says Malinowsky. \u201cThere\u2019s evidence that proves children who are able to select books they want to read show more interest in reading and they continue to read.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child prefers fiction books<\/a> and graphic novels<\/a>, find out the kind of stories they\u2019re interested in, whether it\u2019s fantasy, comedy, or anything in between, and find a series you can enjoy together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your child leans more towards non-fiction books<\/a>, find out what captures their imaginations the most \u2014 whether it\u2019s space, animals, or history \u2014 and have fun choosing new books to explore together. Here are simple questions to gauge your child’s interests<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Bond Over Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember to share your own love of books<\/a> by being a reading role model<\/a>. When your kids see how excited you are to continue reading, they\u2019ll be just as enthusiastic about their own books. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cParents can support their striving readers by showing how important reading is to them,\u201d says Williams. \u201cAsk their kids what they are reading and what kinds of books they like. Let your children see you reading and give books as gifts. Praise your child when you see them reading.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, don’t limit what your child reads too much: Let them explore different mediums, such as websites, newspapers, magazines, journals, cookbooks, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Find the Right Match<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor striving readers, selecting books that have relatable characters, approachable text, and represent both fiction and nonfiction are important to consider,\u201d says Malinowsky. A few of her favorites: Who Would Win<\/a>, Fly Guy<\/a>, Pete the Cat<\/a>, and I Can Read<\/a> books. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI like these books, in particular, because the text is approachable and striving readers are often attracted to the characters,\u201d says Malinowsky. \u201cFor the non-fiction books, the text is a bit harder, but the pictures are vibrant and keep students interested.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Be Patient<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It may be tempting to read for your child, but Williams recommends parents take a step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “In their attempt to help their striving reader, many parents foster dependency and discourage risk-taking by telling kids the words,\u201d says Williams. \u201cAs difficult as it may be, encourage your kid to try it and ask ‘What do you think this word is? What do you think we should do now?’\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n These questions will guide kids to use strategies and techniques learned in school to help them figure out unknown words, adds Williams. Also, avoid correcting every single mistake. Let your child make them and then say, “I am so proud of you for getting through this text. I think we should reread this text again tomorrow to make sure we understood the message the author wanted us to get.” This will help kids get comfortable with rereading, which is what we want them to do when they are confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n