Read today, lead tomorrow. Let’s look at fun ways to improve your child’s reading skills

Once upon a time, in a world filled with picture books, crayons, and bedtime stories, a curious little reader was waiting to discover the magic of words. That’s when you – the brave and loving parent – decided to embark on the noble quest of teaching them to read. Armed with patience, a few good books, and a sprinkle of creativity, you set out to build their reading skills one story at a time!

The building blocks of early reading skills

Start by introducing the letters of the alphabet to your child. Teaching reading begins with the basics. This means introducing letters. Help your child recognise and name each letter, both uppercase and lowercase. Make it fun with colourful flashcards, alphabet songs, or tracing letters in sand or on paper. These early steps not only build familiarity but also lay the foundation for phonics and word recognition. Keep the activities playful and engaging to spark their interest in learning.

Why not make reading and writing more exciting by starting a family tradition of writing letters to friends or loved ones? Let your child choose colourful stationery, share their thoughts, and practise their writing skills. Add a fun twist by rewarding the most creative or heartfelt letter (everyone wins, of course!). Once finished, don’t forget to post it together! It’s a wonderful way to improve reading skills, bond as a family, and spread some joy…

Honing your child’s reading skills

Many children show exciting signs of being early reading fanatics. Nurturing these reading skills can be a delightful journey, especially when they show enthusiasm for books. Your child may eagerly devour new books, finishing them quickly, or find comfort in reading their favourites over and over again. They might ask thoughtful questions about the plot, characters, or themes, showing a deeper understanding and curiosity about the stories they read. Sharing their opinions and interpretations demonstrates their growing ability to engage critically with texts.

Sometimes, they may fully immerse themselves in the story, imagining they are part of the world the author has created. Encouraging this natural passion for reading – whether they’re choosing books during free time or reading purely for enjoyment – helps develop their skills and nurtures a lifelong love for learning.

Help at hand

Reading aloud to children is important for language development.
Choose a variety of books with different themes, styles and difficulty levels.
Ask questions about the story or characters and encourage children to share their interpretations.
Show your kids letters and words everywhere – in books, signs, and even cereal boxes. Make it a game to spot different words.
Introduce letter sounds to build a foundation for phonics.
Doodle and write. Get them scribbling and drawing to boost those little hand muscles. Try tracing letters too!
Get into activities that develop phonemic awareness, such as rhyming games and identifying the initial sounds of words. Activities like rhyming games, segmenting words into sounds, blending sounds to form words, or identifying the first or last sounds in words can strengthen phonemic awareness. By mastering these skills, children develop the ability to decode words and improve their overall reading fluency.