Reading Help for Children – How to Help Your Children

Reading is an essential skill in life, necessary for education, work and recreation. Being a reader opens up a whole world of fact and fantasy which will benefit children for the rest of their lives. All parents want their children to learn to read but many don’t know what to do to get reading help for children or how to help them themselves.

Start early with your children reading them stories and chanting nursery rhymes. They may not actually know what you’re saying but it will subconsciously get them used to the idea of reading. They will also connect reading with the sound of your voice, which they will associate with comfort and care, leading them to love reading. Cloth books with simple words and pictures are great for babies

When they get a little older, read from large print story books, pointing to the words as you read. Choose books with pictures that the children can associate with the words that you’re reading. Along with the actual reading, you can teach your children the alphabet using specialist alphabet books, alphabet magnets and simple writing materials. Stick the magnets on your fridge and let the children play with them as you’re preparing meals. Take the time to ask them what the letters are as they pick them up and get them to spell their names as a starting point.

Reading help for children can also be obtained from videos, DVDs and television programs. Check out the children’s TV channels for educational viewing but don’t just leave your children to it; sit with them and join in the activities. It may be a bit mind numbing for you but it will benefit your children greatly.

If you need reading help for children who are already at school, but aren’t learning to read at the rate expected of their age group, ask the school for help. They may have a reading specialist who will provide one to one tuition or if not, they will be able to advise you how to contact one.

Alternatively, you can join an online program which provides reading help for children. These programs generally use animated cartoon type figures which are fun for kids and lessons can be repeated until the children have learnt and understood the content. Printable reports are usually provided so that you can track the children’s progress. These programs are interactive and based on phonics and start with sound recognition and progress up to typing sentences.

These are just a few ways in which you can provide reading help for children.