Reading is the process that involves going through an arrangement of words and symbols and deriving meaningful information out of the same.
Reading is a complex process wherein we use our eyes to receive the symbols, and our brain converts those symbols into words and sentences that say something to us.
Reading is vital as it develops our thoughts, gives us knowledge and keeps the mind active.”A child who reads will be an adult who thinks”(Anonymous, NA). Reading can be fun which opens up a new world for us and develops our language, literacy and brain.
Here are some tips, if used, can go a long way in improving the child’s reading and make him/her a voracious reader.
1.Connect reading with the real world: As the child is learning, try to connect the reading with the real-life situation.Talk to the child about the reading material and ask for examples in real life.
2.Reading again and again: Encourage your child to read the book of his or her choice again and again.Re-reading helps build speed and accuracy.It is okay if the child reads the book forth 100th time.
3.Always carry something to read:Never leave any moment to sit idle.Always take storybooks with you while travelling or while in a queue with your child.
4.Pen down the new words: Make a small notebook and write the new vocabulary which the child comes across and ask the child to read it, understand the meaning of that word and make him/her try to use it during communication.
5.Picture reading: Show a picture to the child and ask to describe the image using simple language.The child will pick up comprehension with this activity.
6.Reading out loud: Take turns to readout loud.Initially, you read out loudly emphasizing on the new words and then ask the child to read the same aloud.This activity will help in improving the pronunciation and build a child’s confidence in reading.
7.Play with words: Write a new word on a piece of paper, show it to your child and tell the meaning.Then ask the child to do the same with a word of his/her choice, which will help in building the vocabulary.The parent must use new words every time and give synonyms to the words picked up by the child.
8.Choose the reading medium:With the advent of technology, the options available are paperback books, digital books and audiobooks. Let the child choose the most convenient medium for him/her.But the recommended one would be the paperback books as touch and feel of a physical book in hand may generate more interest in reading.
9.Library at home: Creating a small corner library at home will provide a reading atmosphere at home.The child will develop a sense of belongings and love for books.
