Read to your children from the day they are born.
Read to your child or have your child read to you for at least 20 minutes every day.
Don't leave reading to the schools. Children who read outside of school are far more likely to succeed than those who don't.
Ask your child to supply sound effects while you read.
After reading a book, relate the plot or theme to a more complex subject. For example, a book about a trip to Grandma's house can lead to a discussion about traveling.
Read books that you loved when you were a child, and talk to your child about why you loved them.
Ask your child to picture what is happening while you read. Ask what sounds and smells might be in the story.
Ask your child to give you feedback about what you've read-by talking about it, writing about it or drawing pictures about it
When you have finished reading a story, ask your child to make up a new ending for it.
Pause periodically to see if your child understands what you're reading.
Pause periodically to see if your child understands what you're reading.
The more animated you are when you read, the better your child will follow the story.
The more animated you are when you read, the better your child will follow the story.
The more animated you are when you read, the better your child will follow the story.
Keep books, magazines and newspapers around the house. This creates a reading environment.
Let your child know that reading time is special. What a great time to cuddle up with your child.
Don't stop reading aloud to your child once she learns to read because she will benefit by hearing stories that are too difficult for her to read.
Put a few magnetic letters on the refrigerator. Start with the letters in your child's name, and help your child make other words using these letters.
Make a fun, age-appropriate dictionary of letter sounds for your child.
As your child reads, have him close his left eye and read aloud to the end of the sentence, then switch to the right eye. This will improve your child's comprehension.
Make a tape of your child's favorite stories and ring a bell when you turn a page in the story. Have your child follow along in the book when he or she plays the tape.
Take pictures during family outings and, together with your child, write captions beside them. Put these together in book format, with page numbers and a title page, and have your child read the book to family and friends.
Turn off the audio on your TV and turn on the caption format. Then have your children follow their favorite television programs by reading the captions instead of listening to the TV.
Let your children see you read something-the newspaper, books, recipes, maps, phone books or instruction manuals-every day.
Keep a diary with your child, and read it back from time to time.
Have your children help you shop for groceries. Give each child two or three labels from canned or packaged items, and ask them to match the words and pictures on their labels to items on the store shelves.
Have your children help you shop for groceries. Give each child two or three labels from canned or packaged items, and ask them to match the words and pictures on their labels to items on the store shelves.
Make sure your children have library cards. Teach your children to be at home in the public library.
Take books whenever you go: in the car, on the bus, to the doctor, to the market, anywhere.
Write down travel directions and have your child serve as navigator when you drive.
Play the alphabet game while riding in the car. Encourage your child to find a word that starts with A, then B, then C, etc.
Play the alphabet game while riding in the car. Encourage your child to find a word that starts with A, then B, then C, etc.
Look up words with your child and see how the meanings of similar words are related.
Write difficult works onto flashcards. Use one of these words in conversation during lunch or dinner every day.
Practice matching capital and lowercase letters with your child.
Have children read recipe instructions to you when you cook.
Encourage children to find words within words. For example, it, in, wit and thin are in within. This teaches the child to focus on words.
Read books of jokes and riddles that your child can tell to other people.
Don't let your children watch TV unless they have read something that day.
Talk up reading as a special activity-one that your child is privileged to do more of on days that are very hot, cold or rainy.
Encourage your child to think of reading as a reward. Read an extra story when your child has done something worthy of praise.
Copyright, 2002, Los Angeles Times. Reprinted with permission.
