Speaking and reading are so obviously connected, that it almost seems unnecessary to write this post. However sometimes the obvious has to be emphasized.
We want our children to be good readers, but at times we get too busy to listen to our children talk. Converstion builds vocabulary and when vocabulary is expanded reading comprehension grows too. Here are some tidbits of advice:
- Talk to your child regularly about everyday things, the weather, what is on the news, TV shows, music, sports, what you did during the day, places that you have been together etc.
- Eat meals together as a family at the dinner table. Talk about your day, ask them about their day. Go around the table and ask everyone to tell about the best part of their day and then about the worst part of their day.
- Listen, listen , and listen some more.
- Ask your child for their opinion on different topics.
- When you have gone some place special talk about it on the way home in the car.
- Read the paper or a magazine together and talk about what you have read.
- Encourage your child to ask lots of questions.
Remember the more conversations that you have with your child, the greater his/her vocabulary will be and the bigger the vocabulary the better the reader your child will be. A bonus to all of this is also that your child will feel loved and valued as a person by you. This will go a long way to empowering your child to do well.