As adults, many of us take literacy for granted. In fact, we’ve been able to read and write for so long that we often draw a blank when trying to remember how we learned in the first place. However, for a fair number of us, it’s a safe bet that this wasn’t easy. Although some children are able to soak up reading lessons like sponges, a sizable percentage of kids encounter roadblocks along the path to literacy. Fortunately, there are a number of simple measures parents and educators can take to make this journey easier on their children.
Be Consistent
Building good reading skills takes practice. In order for children to learn to recognize words and develop a firm understanding of sentence structure, they’ll need to receive lessons on a daily basis. This isn’t to say that every child will need to devote multiple hours a day to this endeavor, but they should have designated reading time built into their daily schedules. The more a child is exposed to reading, the more embedded the material will become in his or her mind. Like riding a bike, reading is a skill that a child will never forget. However, as is the case with bike-riding, daily practice is essential to learning this skill in the first place.
Of course, for children to get the most out of daily practice, they’ll need good learning aids. Luckily, the internet is home to a convenient assortment of learning tools for kids interested in enhancing their reading skills.
Don’t Let Kids Wallow in Discouragement
Children can become noticeably discouraged when they’re not immediately good at something. If they’re unable to fully grasp the mechanics of reading on their first try, many kids won’t hesitate to grow frustrated and walk away. Rather than allow them to wallow in discouragement, take care to provide your kids with encouragement and positive reinforcement throughout every reading lesson. While this may not get rid of their frustration entirely, it will help calm them down and make them more amenable to not giving up.
Offer Incentive to Learn
Getting a child to sit down and practice reading can be an uphill battle. Small children are energetic by nature, and many of them have trouble sitting still for extended periods. With this in mind, consider providing your kids with some incentive to concentrate and digest the material. For example, a successful reading lesson could be rewarded with a treat or a trip to the park. Furthermore, larger accomplishments – like completing an entire book – may warrant slightly larger rewards, like gifts and trips to the movies.
Literacy is a perquisite for getting ahead in any field. You’d be hard-pressed to find a profession that doesn’t entail some degree of reading or writing. As such, it behooves parents and educators to instill the importance of reading comprehension in children and help guide them down the path to literacy. Since every child learns at his or her own pace, this can sometimes seem daunting. However, if you’re armed with the right knowledge and teaching tools, helping kids develop solid reading skills is much easier than you may think.
