Expand your children’s world- help them become a reader even if you have extremely busy schedules! You don’t have to be a good reader to help your child. You don’t have to enjoy reading to help your child.

You don’t have to read lengthy books to help your child become a great reader. You don’t need to spend a huge amount of time reading with your child. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on books. You don’t have to take expensive classes to know what to do and how to get started.

Read this carefully and I will tell you how to make sure your child is a good reader. I will begin by giving you some straightforward help and advice that is easy to understand. Ask your teacher how you can help your child. Check to see if the school has a reading volunteer program and join up.

The help you give your child will help them to be an excellent reader for the whole of their life. If you want to expand your imagination and your knowledge base, read all the time. Reading is the basis of most subjects at school so any time that you can spend with your child will be valuable and enriching.

If your child doesn’t like reading, you have to stimulate their interest in reading. The most obvious way to do this is to read interesting books to them and show that you are interested. Make sure you choose a book of the right age and interest level for your child.

Children love to see beautifully illustrated books so choose a book that is visually attractive. One author that you should check out is Graeme Base who has beautiful books. Talking about the illustrations is an interesting way of beginning to get your child excited about the theme or story in the book. Printed words have meaning and children need to learn this. They need to associate the spoken word with the printed word. Use your finger to track underneath the words.

Show that you’re interested in reading so that your children become interested. It doesn’t matter what you read, a manual, magazine, books, or even comics. At meal time, point out any words which are shown on the packages on the table. Choose a word and clap out the syllables in the word.

There are many core skills and concepts that underlie reading, like word recognition, rhyming, starting and ending sounds of words, even joining in by looking at text. Have the kids help you prepare meals by reading recipes or instructions on packets and cans. When eating out or getting take out, find words and symbols that have meaning, like the golden arches of MacDonalds.

It doesn’t matter if children are competent, independent readers still keep reading to them. Most people, especially children, love to have stories read to them. Try to vary what you read, for example, read poetry as well stories. Anything that builds imagination, love of words and language, love of reading is powerful.

Take any opportunity you can to read to your children. It doesn’t matter what you read. Read about animals, space travel, building houses, making bridges, repairing cars, fairy tales – everything helps a child become a better reader.

If you really believe in the importance of helping a child to read well, you will take every advantage you can to build up their language and reading skills. You might have a video player in your car and this can occupy a long journey but think also of using a story CD for your children when traveling. At home, turn the television off and share some family reading time together.

Do different things when you’re reading with your child. Ask them if they can see any pictures in their head when they say a word or a sentence. Talk about the magic of words and language. Tell them what your favorite words are. Make reading an important part of your family life. If you are really dedicated to helping your child read better, take advantage of the hundreds of wonderful home opportunities to help your child to read well.