Teaching reading has got more and more difficult over the years as more and more distractions affect our children. Also with both parents working there is less time to spend with the children, so reading at home is taking a back seat, and it is showing in our school reports. 

Teaching reading takes time and commitment. 

School teachers do their best but parents need to help too. That means if possible parents should read to their children as often as possible. This increases vocabulary and comprehension, and if done properly it helps with learning to read. 

If you are a parent and you read to your child you should point to the word you are saying, so your children know what sound each word makes. And that starts them on the road to learning. 

Reading is decoding the word into sounds. 

If the child already knows the spoken word, then she sees the word written, she can work out that that written word is the same as that spoken sound. That is the basics off reading, but it is an ongoing process and you should read as often as possible. 

Also read the same book as many times as you child will allow. This way the repetition will implant the written word in your child’s mind. Most children want you to read the same book over and over again, so do it. 

With teaching reading it is time, the more time you spend reading to your children the faster they will learn. There is no fast way, only a consistent way. For problem readers I like the Montessori approach with sandpaper letters. That method is very effective and it plants the word in the child’s mind.

To help your child learn to read have a look at our Recommended Products on the right.

Thank You for your time

Peter Legrove