Learning to read is an integral part of a child’s education and development. While some children seem to pick up reading skills naturally, others may need more help and guidance to succeed.
There are a number of different ways to approach reading instruction, and what works best for one child might not work for another. The most important thing is to make learning to read fun and engaging so that kids stay motivated and excited about it. Here are eight fun and engaging methods for teaching a child to read:
Start with basic words and phrases
Before your child can start reading whole sentences, they’ll need to learn how to identify individual words. An excellent yet simpler way to do this is by introducing basic words and phrases they’ll encounter in everyday life. Try pointing out words on signs, labels, and packaging as you go about your daily routine. You can also make a game out of it by seeing who can spot the most words starting with a certain letter, for example.
Use children’s books
Children’s books are specifically designed to be easy for beginners to read, so they’re a great resource for teaching reading skills. Take some time to read aloud with your child, emphasizing key words and helping them sound out unfamiliar terms. You can also encourage them to look at the pictures and tell you a story based on what they see.
Play word games together
There are tons of great word games that you can play together as a family that will help your child learn new words and improve their reading skills. Scrabble, Boggle, Word Ladder, and Hangman are all classics that are sure to be fun for everyone involved while also giving your child’s reading skills a boost.
Encourage them to read out loud
It can be helpful for children to read aloud as they are learning. This will help them sound out unfamiliar words and get used to seeing them in print. It also allows you, as the parent or caregiver, to hear where they might be struggling and offer assistance accordingly. Reading aloud can feel like a chore for some kids, though. So, try making it into a game! Consider taking turns reading paragraphs or pages from a book or article aloud and see who can do it the fastest without making any mistakes.
Try rhymes and songs
Rhymes and songs are a great way to help kids learn new words and phrases. They also help improve their pronunciation skills. There are tons of great resources available online and in libraries, or you can make up your own. Incorporating music into your reading instruction will make it more fun and engaging for your child, and they’ll be sure to remember the words and concepts better.
Have them keep a journal
Giving your child a journal to write in is another excellent way to encourage them to practice their reading and writing skills regularly. They can use it to record their thoughts and feelings or to write stories, poems, or articles about whatever interests them. You can also have them keep a reading journal, where they write down new words and phrases they encounter, look up the definitions, and use them in sentences of their own.
Give them a flashlight
This might seem like a strange way to teach reading, but bear with us—it can be quite effective! Get a small flashlight and sit in a darkened room with your child. Have them shine the light on a book or article page and read aloud what they see. This will help them focus on the words and ignore any distractions around them. Plus, it’s just plain fun!
Visit the library together
Make trips to the local library part of your routine, and encourage your child to check out books that interest them. Reading for fun is just as important as reading for instruction, and the library is a great place to find material that will capture your child’s imagination. Plus, it’s a great way to get them used to using library resources and borrowing materials responsibly.
Teaching a child to read can be a challenging but rewarding process. Using some of these fun and engaging methods can help your child develop strong reading skills that will serve them well throughout their life.
At The Pillars Christian Learning Center, our mission is to provide high-quality early childhood education while instilling and exemplifying Christian Values. Our vision is to partner with you as a parent to build your child a firm foundation for a lifetime of success and achievement — in their academics, their relationships, and their Faith. Visit our website to learn more!
