Strategies to Encourage Young Readers and Build Confidence
Teach, Read, Succeed: Ask the Expert
If you’re finding that your beginning reader doesn’t want to practice reading, here are some quick tips you can try immediately to help your child get excited for reading.
Benefits of listening to a reader
Even though your child is learning to read, having you read to them still has benefits, including building vocabulary and comprehension. If your child has spent their day learning to read at school, it's ok to take some pressure off and read to them.
Shared Reading
Building confidence for beginning readers is HUGE. Try reading to your child and stopping occasionally to let them read the next word. Begin with words you know they can read, and then challenge them with words they have to sound out as their confidence grows. To build further on this as your child learns more, have your child read more - have them read to the end of the sentence, and increase the frequency at which you stop reading.
Model Learning
Sometimes seeing a grown up make a mistake or sound out a word is a huge confidence builder and shows children that we adults aren’t perfect. Let your child hear you sound out a word (even a simple one!) or pick a letter your child knows and pretend you forgot its sound, and ask your child to remind you what the sound is. This works especially well if you make it fun, and say “oh my gosh I can’t believe I forgot this sound!”
Incorporate Technology
Let your child record themselves reading on your smartphone or tablet. Although simple, sometimes this is just enough to engage readers who may not want to be heard by another person (no need to listen to the videos, unless they want to). Bonus: if you save some videos, you and your child can watch their reading grow over time.
Are you looking to empower your child with strong reading skills, but aren’t sure where to start? Check out our Building Blocks for Confident Readers here!
Brittany is an educator and doula, fueled by her passions in teaching and supporting families. She supports families whether from birth through childhood.
Contact Courageous Moments to learn how she can help you and your child on your parenting and reading journey.