Teach Your Child To Learn to Read

When to Start
Unless your child shows an active interest in reading, you should wait until your child is at least four before you begin phonics training. Smaller children do not have the focus or memory to learn to read, unless they are very interested in reading.

At the age of four, you can begin reading books that are very simple. These preschool books will be phonics based, and will need to be taught in conjunction with phonics. There is popular preschool reading curriculum that can help you teach your child to read, but be sure to set the pace to your child’s needs rather than to the program’s specifications.

Diagnose Problems
If your child has trouble reading childrens literature, then you may want to make sure that he or she does not have any learning disabilities. Reading is processed differently in some children, who may need to be taught special tricks and tips to help them learn to read.

You can talk to your doctor or the child’s school if you think your child needs help learning to read. Reading books is something that each child should enjoy, but it is impossible when a learning disability makes the process frustrating.

Emerging Readers
Teaching an emerging reader to learn to read usually includes working with a phonics book for children. Your child will need to know the basics of the English language before they can read childrens literature, including the sounds of the letters in the alphabet and special sounds that do not follow the rules.

Most pre-made reading programs include incremental phonics lessons, a small book for children to read with each lesson, and a short list of sight words for each book. It is important that you take your time when your child is working through the child’s book. Each child will learn at his or her own pace, so do not worry if it takes a week for each lesson.

Time Frame
Teaching a child to read can take several months, or several years. If you see that your child is flying through the phonics based book for children that you begin with, then you may want to move on to a slightly more challenging book.

Other children do not become avid readers until adulthood. If you want your child to value reading books, then the best thing you can do is set a strong reading foundation in childhood.

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