Most parents want their children to be better readers. After all, reading is essential to all other learning.
I am going to do a series of posts. Each post will explain one way to help your child be a better reader no matter how old your child is.
One very simple way to help your child be a better reader is by giving him/her lots of life experiences. Why is this important? The more everyday life experiences that a child has the more connections he or she will make to what they are reading and therefore, they will comprehend what they read more easily. The more places a child has been or experienced, the more curious they will be. For example:
- A child who has just been to the zoo, may become more curious about different kinds of animals. When they read a book about zoo animals, they will automatically have a connection to that book because they have been there.
- Suppose your child’s teacher introduces the book Fruit and Vegetable Man by Roni Schotter. This is a story about a man who runs a fruit and vegetable stand. If your child has never been to a farmer’s market or fruit and vegetable stand then your child may not as easily understand this story.
- Life experiences also increase vocabulary. One third grade girl knew what a meteorologist was because she and her family watched the local news every night. When the vocab word came up in class, she waved her hand excitedly because she knew what it was.
The experiences you give your child do not have to be far away exotic places, just everyday places. Here are a few:
- Take your child to the post office.
- Let your child go with you to the grocery store or farmer’s market.
- Plant a garden with your child.
- Give your child a pet to take care of.
- Take a walk through the woods with your child (or just around the block in your neighborhood.
- Go to the beach, collect shells.
- Take your child to work with you.