Who doesn’t love storytelling? Whether we tell them, listen to them, or read them, we all love to learn of new and interesting things through storytelling. Literature is an important element of our culture, expression, and all aspects of daily living. Children love listening to and sharing stories. However, many children avoid reading because they struggle with:
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Phonics: being able to sound out the word, count the syllables of the word (example: but-ter-fly has three syllables), and recognize rhyming sounds or similar sounds (rhyming sounds, for example: hush and crush – are both rhyming words), (similar sounds, for example: this and that – both have the th sound).
- Word Decoding: understanding letter-sounding relationships, letter patterns, and pronunciation of words. Alphabet magnets can be helpful – ask your child to spell out the difficult word with the alphabet magnets. More techniques can be found at: “This Mama Reads.”
- Vocabulary: reading a book filled with words he or she understands. Most children (and adults) learn the meaning of words while using everyday language. Understanding vocabulary is important for listening, reading, speaking, and writing. I taught my daughter a tip I used as a child. I had a small pocket dictionary, and whenever I didn’t know the meaning of a word, I looked it up in my dictionary and highlighted the word. If your child is looking up every other word, then the book may be too advanced for him or her.
- Fluency: reading clearly and with a steady pace. If your child reads a story with long, choppy pauses, or is expressionless while reading aloud or silently, then your child needs more practice, or an easier reading level.
- Comprehension: making the connection between what your child has read with his or her own experiences or knowledge. If your child comprehends a story read, then he or she is able to interpret the story. This means being able to relate to the story, either with a similar experience, or with what he or she already knows.
Start Young and Set the Foundation – It’s so important that we introduce reading and the love of literature to our children as early as possible. Reading to our children from the moment they are born introduces them to the love of stories and literature. Pointing to the pictures in the book while reading the words helps to teach picture-word recognition. Giving toddlers safe and durable books to play with is a great introduction to literature. Let them turn the pages and play with the books, even though they’re not reading yet!
Video Game Books are Great – We have to peak our child’s interest in reading, and the only way to do this is by purchasing material they’ll actually want to read! I remember Samantha hated reading. My daughter would dread it – until I bought her books that revealed video game secrets and tricks. She also loved the teen magazines (I made sure they were age appropriate). It wasn’t Charles Dickens, but it got her reading! These days, Mine Craft books are all the rage for kids.
Read Aloud and Be Proud - Kids tend to be their own worst critics. Many children hear their own mistakes when they read out loud to others and as a result, will do what-ever they can to avoid it. Ask your child to take a moment and read the page to him/herself. Then ask your child to try read the page out loud, but become the character or narrator and make the story come alive. This will also help you to gauge whether or not the book is too easy, too hard, or just right for your child. We want our children to enjoy reading, but we also want them to be challenged and increase their reading skills. If your child is reading a book too quickly, then the book might be too easy for him or her. If your child struggles with reading every other word, then it’s too hard and you’ll want to get a book that’s a little closer to your child’s reading level. Test your child’s reading level here.
Mom/Dad – Child Book Clubs- Book clubs aren’t just for adults! Start a book-club with your child. Visit your local book store or library and allow your child to choose a book of their interest. You both check out the same book and read chapters or an agreed number of pages together. Schedule a consistent time for reading and getting together to discuss the book (setting, characters, and storyline). This a wonderful way to learn about how your child interprets the story. You can both guess what’s going to happen next and find out which one of you were right or wrong!
Make it Theatrical – Ask your child to act out one of their favorite scenes in the book they're reading. Other family members can join in on this fun, it would be a great way to view your child’s interpretation of the story! I also loved getting Samantha to read a book, then watch the movie so we can talk about the comparisons and whether or not she preferred the movie or book.
Illustrate Your Love of Reading - Parents are their children’s first and most influential role model. Our children are going to do what we do, so be sure your child sees you reading. Whether it’s the Sunday newspaper, a magazine, or any type of literature, market the joy of reading to your children.
With children like my thirteen-year-old son, Richie, who has autism, I read many different books at varying reading levels to him. Some peak his interest and some don’t. What I have learned is that Richie loves me to be as animated as possible. I have to be theatrical while reading to him and do the voices of the characters. During our reading adventures, I learned that he does read and recognize many words, as he likes me to repeat certain paragraphs that contain no pictures.
Developing a love for reading takes time. Many children who have issues with comprehension, word identification, decoding or fluency, will become better at reading with practice. Please remember it’s important to be consistent and keep our children reading as often as possible – every day. We want our children to become confident readers, so they too can love all the adventures, excitement, and thrill of storytelling with the written word.
© 2015 Sensory Friends
Developing a love for reading takes time. Many children who have issues with comprehension, word identification, decoding or fluency, will become better at reading with practice. Please remember it’s important to be consistent and keep our children reading as often as possible – every day. We want our children to become confident readers, so they too can love all the adventures, excitement, and thrill of storytelling with the written word.
© 2015 Sensory Friends
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