Encouraging a happy reader

Spending time reading together with your child can really boost confidence

Published 01 Apr 2008
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Learning to read needn’t be a chore. In fact, most children love books and stories, and so do their parents. Katie, mum to Jasmine, 5, says: “Sometimes I’m tired, but I try to set aside ten to 15 minutes a day just to sit with Jasmine. We might look at a book from school, then I read her a book or a chapter of a story. After a busy day, it’s just nice to sit down together and have a cuddle.”

Reading aloud with your child

In the rush of everyday life, it can be easy to miss out on reading together — but even a short amount of reading time each day is really valuable for children. Reading aloud to your child is the easiest way to boost his literacy skills and help him do well at school. It improves his vocabulary and attention span, feeds his imagination, helps him to wind down before bed and also creates a cosy time when he can chat to you.
 

Research shows that reading can bring long-term benefits in later life too; according to the Literacy Trust: “People with good literacy skills are more likely to have higher self-esteem, better health, better jobs and higher wages. They are more likely to feel confident enough to take advantage of the opportunities that life offers them.”

Jacqueline WilsonJacqueline Wilson’s reading tips

Children's Laureate Jacqueline Wilson compiled Great Books to Read Aloud (£1, Corgi), a guide to top books for 0-11 year olds, and has some handy tips on reading with your child

  1. Reading aloud to your child is great for bonding. At bedtime, it also helps calm boisterous behaviour.
  2. It’s a good way of finding out what’s going on in your child’s head, too. If something is bothering him, choose a story that creates an opportunity for him to talk to you about his feelings.
  3. Start reading aloud to your child from about six months with simple board books.
  4. Don’t be put off if you’re not a confident reader. You can even make up your own story to go with pictures in a book.
  5. You don’t have to put in a star performance! It’s fine to read in your ordinary voice if you don’t like doing different voices for the characters.
  6. If your child is fidgety, choose a story he can join in with and act out.
  7. Stories aren’t just for bedtime! Try reading to your child when you’re curled up on the sofa, or even when he’s playing — whatever fits in with family life.

Visit www.greatbookstoreadaloud.co.uk for some brilliant books to read aloud with your child.

Start children reading early

Often, tiny babies like being held in your arms, looking at the coloured pages of picture books and hearing the rhythm of your voice. Older babies usually love books with flaps or textures. Don’t be upset if he doesn’t seem that interested — just keep offering books as you would other toys, as research shows that children are more likely to want to read if they have books around.
By the time children are nearly two years old, many start to enjoy stories. They might become obsessed with the Spot books or The Gruffalo, asking for the same story night after night. This may seem boring to you, but children love repetition and learn a lot from hearing the words over and over again.

As your child gets more familiar with a book, he may start to recognise some letters — perhaps the letter his name or the name of his favourite character begins with. Be sure to give him lots of praise when this happens. 

Reading and older children

Once he starts school, your child will bring reading books home with him. Reading to Mum or Dad really helps a child’s literacy skills, so it’s vital to make time for this.Young girl reading with her dad

At the same time, there’s no need to give up reading aloud to him. “If you read to children and get them hooked, they are readers for life,” says popular children’s author Jacqueline Wilson. “You don’t have to stop when they can read for themselves. It can be a lovely family thing.”

Older children love chapter books, such as those by Roald Dahl and the Harry Potter books. These can be fun for parents too. Reema, mum of Jake, six, says, “I’ve been known to read extra chapters of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory to my son because I can’t wait to find out what happens next!”

What books to read

Reading isn’t only about storybooks. Poems, joke books, comics and even the side of a cereal packet can all be fascinating to children and help tempt reluctant readers. Although boys tend to be less keen on reading than girls, many love reading factual books about their favourite subjects, such as space travel or dinosaurs.

For older children, newspapers, magazines and websites are an option. And if your child asks a tricky question, encourage him to use his reading skills to find the answer by looking in a book or online together.

How to find cheap books

You can buy secondhand books for next to nothing from school fêtes and charity shops. The cheapest source of all is your local library. Most libraries have colourful displays of children’s books and run toddler sessions where young children can paint, make things and listen to stories. A library card is free for children and the choice of books is so huge that even the pickiest reader will find something they love.

Help your child love reading

  1. Let babies join in the experience by turning pages and lifting flaps.
  2. If your child is fidgety, choose a story she can act out as you read.
  3. Turn off the TV if your child is reading or if you are reading to her.
  4. Chat about stories and characters from books your child loves.
  5. Remember that poems, jokes, comics, magazines and websites can all be part of the reading experience too!

Find out more

  • The BBC’s CBeebies website has an online book group, Story Circle, for under-sixes