Genius Ways Parents Can Help Encouraging English Reading
English Reading gives us the ability to travel outside of our own reality. We can immerse ourselves in the lives of fictional characters and discover a completely different culture from our own by turning the pages of a book. We can also pick up new vocabulary and expressions, go through a variety of emotions, and gain information and abilities.
Regular reading at home can greatly enhance a child’s literacy development, although parents frequently find this difficult for a variety of reasons. It might be tough for a teacher to see a youngster who only needs a little extra encouragement from a parent not get that help.
We shouldn’t hold parents accountable for failing to read to their children at home, though. Several obstacles prevent parents from becoming completely involved in their children’s reading. Many parents don’t have the time or energy to read at the end of the day after work and other obligations. Some people merely lack the extra cash necessary to purchase books for at-home reading.
Due to its capacity for English learning, reading has a wide range of positive effects on a child’s development; numerous studies have emphasized these advantages. Because of this, parents and teachers can ensure that reading is a regular part of children’s lives.
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Stress the Significance of English Reading
While it’s common knowledge that English reading is helpful, emphasizing its exact benefits could persuade some parents to take a more active role in their children’s education. Read widely to develop a robust and varied vocabulary. It fosters empathy by exposing kids to different viewpoints and environments. Reading provides a much-needed diversion from screen time, even on a rudimentary level.
One way to demonstrate the value of reading to parents is to have a casual conversation about it with them on the playground or during parent-teacher conferences. You could also give a presentation on the topic. whichever you and the parents feel will be most helpful.
Library cards
Lack of accessibility is one of the main obstacles to literacy. Simply put, many parents cannot afford to buy their kids new books. The answer to this? The little library. Low-income families can benefit greatly from local libraries, and they also require our help. If you have any available, give parents informational flyers about the neighbourhood library. Provide a link to the websites of the local libraries.
You may even plan a class excursion to the library and invite a parent or two to go with you. Kids are expected to share with their parents how much they loved their trip to the library, which may also inspire parents to visit the library more frequently.
Show That Reading Isn’t Just About Books
We read all the time, including recipes, birthday cards, grocery lists, and other ordinary materials. Demonstrate to parents that reading practice doesn’t always need to be a planned, one-hour activity. Little reading sessions can be just as beneficial. For example, asking kids to read the grocery list or the ingredients list when baking might help them become more fluent and self-assured. Read more about the The Benefits of Children’s Literature in ESL Education
One great way to foster a love of reading in your child is to provide a variety of engaging books. For parents looking to expand their child’s English book collection, consider exploring the offerings at MakoStars Store. They feature a wide range of children’s books, including Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl books.
- Benefits: Known for their rhythmic and rhyming text, Dr. Seuss books help young readers develop phonemic awareness and a love for reading through playful language and imaginative stories.
- Benefits: Roald Dahl’s books captivate children with their inventive plots and memorable characters, encouraging a deeper interest in reading and storytelling.
This online store provides convenient access to high-quality books that can make reading a fun and enriching activity for your child. You can visit their store here to browse and purchase books tailored to your child’s interests and educational needs.
Encourage Use of eBooks
Endorsing the use of eBooks is a fantastic approach to increase book accessibility. Several apps can be used to access them on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can download a lot of eBooks for free, and if you have a library card, you can access even more online. For working parents, eBooks are a far more handy and cost-effective solution than traditional books. Parents only need to be directed toward the thousands of books that are readily available at their fingertips.
Make Interactive Reading Activity Suggestions
It’s possible that some parents are making an effort to interact with their child’s reading, but the youngster is the one who is resisting. Engaging reluctant readers can be particularly challenging, which could deter parents from trying again in the future. It’s possible for parents to assume that their child dislikes reading or books, but this is untrue.
In this case, approaching reading from a fresh perspective might be just what’s required. Provide ideas for exercises that motivate kids to read more actively.
How Parents Can Help Students Read
Some parents might feel overwhelmed when it comes to assisting their child’s reading and literacy development. Perhaps all they need from you to get their child started on a reading journey at home is a little guidance and encouragement.Â
Be prepared to give guidance when the topic comes up, maybe at parents’ evening or informally on the playground. Make a list of the top five reading advice for kids that you can easily distribute to any parent. These might be:
- Look for a book that your kid likes to read.
- Read a broad range of literature, including nonfiction.
- Everyone read aloud in turn.
- Play out the narrative as though it were a play.
- Always remember to discuss what you’ve read and pose questions.
Looking for more ways to make reading fun? Here are 10 Creative Ways Parents Can Encourage English Learning at Home.
Discuss Reading Goals
Anyone can easily be motivated if they have an objective or goal in mind. To assist parents in understanding what their child is aiming for this term or next year, share reading targets with them. Encouraging parents to be aware of your class objectives can also assist them in supporting their children at home. Tell them what you’re currently concentrating on.
This will provide parents with a general idea of what to discuss with their child at home as well. Parents don’t have to copy everything they do in the classroom, of course, but for those who are unsure of where to begin, it can be a useful starting point.
Conduct Workshops on Reading
Organize a reading workshop once a month or so, inviting parents to read aloud to their children at the school. This is an excellent chance for you to offer your advice and insights as well.
Remember that many parents will be pressed for time, so aim to keep the workshops to a maximum of thirty minutes. At the beginning, you could spend ten or so minutes talking with the parents and updating them on the reading and assignments that your class is currently working on.
Bringing parents together fosters a feeling of community and gives them an opportunity to come to you with any concerns or requests for assistance.
For further information, you can read our blog on How To Make English Learning Fun for the Family
Plan a Book Swap or Sale.
Do you have a ton of books you’ve been intending to give away but haven’t had time to do so yet? Most likely, so do other faculty members and parents at your school. How about including them into your school’s book swap or sale? Decide on a pricing range for each book.
Urge locals, including parents, to attend the book sale and either purchase books or exchange them for ones they have brought with them. This greatly facilitates access to physical books. If it’s a hit, you might even turn it into a monthly gathering that encourages a love of reading.
Importance of Reading for Children
Several studies have revealed that reading has a significant positive impact on a child’s development. According to one study, reading has a positive impact on children’s engagement with the world around them, adult-child social contact, and eventual literacy skills. It also explains how a child’s reading can serve as a “stable source of information” for the rest of their life. This consistency enables them to consistently access material, which is particularly helpful for kids growing up in difficult situations. Reading can also have several other positive effects on a child’s development, such as:
Supported cognitive growth
Cognitive development refers to the way we see and understand the environment in relation to our intelligence, reasoning, language development, and information processing. Reading to kids helps them gain a thorough awareness of the world around them and fills their minds with background information. Their cognitive development is then aided by using this previously learned background knowledge to make sense of what they see, hear, and read.
Gaining Empathy.
We immerse ourselves in the narrative when we read a book. We are able to experience other people’s lives and relate to their emotions, which helps us grow in empathy. Kids can utilize this comprehension to develop empathy for others in the actual world. Children will also learn more about emotions, which will aid them in understanding both their own and other people’s feelings. This has a significant positive impact on their social development.
Acquiring a more profound comprehension
A book can transport us to any location, even a new city, nation, or universe. Youngsters can learn things about people, places, and events via books that they wouldn’t otherwise know. Children who experience this have a broader awareness of the world and cultures that are distinct from their own.
Strengthening connections
A parent will surely build a closer bond with their child if they read to them on a regular basis. Parents can make reading a regular, shared activity that their child looks forward to by participating in it together. It also gives kids the attention, love, and assurance they need, which is essential for their welfare and development.
Enhanced literary abilities.
Even if a young child cannot understand all you are saying when you read aloud to them, it still helps them develop the skills necessary for when they start reading on their own. It teaches kids that reading requires concentration from left to right and that turning pages is necessary to keep going. Even in the early months of life, reading to a kid can aid in language development and stimulate the area of the brain responsible for language processing.
Improved imaginative and creative capacities
When we read a novel, our imagination is put to use to picture the characters, visualize their surroundings, and make predictions about what will happen next. In order to learn about different people, places, events, and eras, we need to engage our imagination. Children that have a developed imagination also tend to be more creative because they employ the concepts in their minds to guide their work.
Ultimately, children will get better at reading if they are read to and read for themselves more often. Practice makes perfect, and a child’s general academic achievement and social skills—like empathy—will improve the more they read.
Conclusion
Reading aloud to your child at home not only provides them with extra one-on-one help that the classroom cannot provide, but it also supplements what they learn in school. We occasionally have a tendency to forget what it was like to be that age.
We take reading for granted as adults, but when we recall how much a child still doesn’t know, it makes it easier to be patient with them. For instance, until you point at the words as you read them, how is a youngster going to learn to read from left to right?
How can kids be aware that every scribble on the page corresponds to a word? If they don’t comprehend, take your time and have patience. Make a regular effort to read to your child every day. Include this in your child’s daily routine and your own until it becomes second nature to them, much like brushing their teeth. If you do skip a day, don’t give up; simply resume your regular schedule when you get the opportunity.
As much as you can, try to read different books to your child. This will enable their creativity to be stretched and flourish by introducing them to a variety of diverse worlds, cultures, and characters.
