Supporting Reading in the Home
It’s a fact: children who have rich backgrounds in literacy show far more success in school than those who don’t. It doesn’t matter what language you speak – READ TO YOUR CHILD (even if it's not in English)! Start when your child is very young – in the womb, even. As your child ages ensure that reading continues to be something that your child participates in several times a day. The more the better!
Students should encounter thousands of texts by the time they reach kindergarten. Again, it doesn’t matter what your first language is. In fact, students who are learning English as a second language will do so more quickly if they are already literate in their native language. Read with them, to them, and allow them time for independent reading or book browsing.
Ways to Access Text
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Get a library card and visit it at least once a week with your child. They will be able to check out books as well as benefit from some of the special events the library puts on supporting literacy development.
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Have your child accompany you to the store or other experiences outside of the home. Look around you as you journey through your city. Writing is EVERYWHERE. Depending on where your child is developmentally, start asking him to help you read things. For instance, a four-year-old will recognize and read a stop sign, and a nine-year-old can help you read directions or fill out a form.
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Children like to read cereal boxes or other products that you buy in the home that are made for kids.
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If you cook, have you child help you read the recipe.
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I don’t encourage too much television watching for young children. Although, there are some quality programs that support literacy development on PBS. These programs typically air in the morning thru the early afternoon.
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If you're out shopping, stop in at a Barnes and Noble, Border's Book Store, or Half-Priced Books, all of which have great children's books sections. I personally love independent used books stores, though their selection may vary from case to case.
The best way to encourage reading, of course, is to work with your child by teaching reading in your home.