● Follow words with your finger as you read to your child.
Point out words go from left to right, top to bottom, and front to
back.
● Take advantage of local library children’s story time. Be
sure to expose your young child to a wide variety of activities
that promote language development and reading skills. See also
Nibbles “Learning about Letters and Words”.
Helping Children Learn to Read
Early and continual parental involvement has great benefits for
children. Parents help to stimulate their child’s development when
they read, sing, and talk to their babies from birth. These are all key
steps to early literacy. The earlier parents start the better.
When parents read to their children, they are paving the way to lifelong learning skills. Parents’ love for reading has a clear affect on
children's view of reading.
Parents should read to their child on a regular basis, everyday if
possible. Consider the following tips:
● Pick books that rhyme or are repetitive in nature. Nursery
rhymes help children become familiar with traditional literature
they will encounter in school. Consider using a theme.
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Around ages 2–3, begin reading stories of animals, potty
training; going to childcare, etc.
For preschoolers (ages 3–5), read books that help to prepare
them for school, that teach lessons about diversity, about
sharing, using manners, and other social skills.
● Engage your child actively during story time. Be expressive,
using different voices, sounds and gestures. Ask questions like:
“What do you think will happen next?”, “Does this remind you of
what we did or of other stories?”, or “Why do you think the little
girl did that?” A parent’s involvement is critical to a
preschooler’s development of reading comprehension skills.
The New York Times Parent Guide to the Best Books for Children,
2000 by Eden Ross is a guide/resource for children’s books.
Once again remember:

Read frequently

Read some stories over and over

Use voice animation and be expressive when you read

Engage your child’s thinking.
Sources: Rothstein, Richard (2004). Harvard Forum. HGSE WGBH
Forum. Closing the Achievement Gap.
University of California Cooperative Extension. (2006) Reading to
Succeed Fact Sheet: Selecting Books for Young Children.
http://ceplacer.ucdavis.edu/Custom%5FProgram833/
Prepared by: Giesela Grumbach, LCSW/Family Life Educator, Fall 2006
Editor: Patti Faughn, Family Life Educator, Springfield Center, 2006
For more information contact:
Angela Reinhart, Family Life Educator
University of Illinois Extension
Champaign County Unit
801 N. Country Fair Drive, Suite D
Champaign, IL 61821
217/333-7672
University of Illinois  US Dept of Agriculture
Local Extension Councils Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.