Your Child's Foundation for Reading

by the National PTA

Your role is essential in connecting your young child to the world of reading. Here's how to get started:

Have a Book Blast!
Surround your child with language through books. Read rhymes and stories, and talk with them about the words and sounds in books. Kids are curious about how language works. Capitalize on what interests them and let stories and words become a part of your daily lives.

Bet on the Alphabet.
Give your child opportunities to play with the alphabet and experiment with sounds. Use magnetic letters, or paper and crayons for writing. Try alphabet books and CD-ROM reading programs.

Play Phonics Games.
A wonderful place to start is with the letters and sounds in your child's name. Or, ask her to tell you all the "b" words on the dinner table (for example, bread, beans, bacon).

Play with Words.
As you read with your child, point to the words on the page and stretch out some of the sounds. That way he can see and hear how language is put together. When he begins reading without you, focus on ways he can figure things out on his own. Questions like, "How could you figure it out?" and "Does that make sense?" have been shown to foster an independent sense of problem solving.

Make Time for Reading!
Find 15 minutes somewhere in your day for these 10 ideas for quick reading fun.

Team Up with Teachers.
Most important of all, become partners with your children's teachers. Together, you have the power to grow your children into readers and writers, which will pay off for the rest of their lives. Find tips for talking with your teacher.

and FamilyEducation's PTA® Connection.