There's an old saying that "Good readers are made on parents' laps." While this sentiment captures the importance of early reading experiences, it's not entirely accurate for most people. In fact, reading at home with family members is valuable, but it isn't an effective teaching method for 60-70% of readers who need direct, systematic, and explict instruction to learn to read. So, why should we emphasize reading at home, and how can we make it work for all families, including those where parents might struggle with reading themselves?
The Benefits of Reading at Home
Even if it's not a direct teaching method, reading at home offers numerous benefits for children's literacy development. Regular reading exposes children to a wider range of words and concepts, significantly enhancing their vocabulary. This exposure is crucial, as it helps children build a rich mental lexicon they can draw upon in various contexts. Additionally, the more words children encounter through reading, the better they become at recognizing them quickly, a skill that's fundamental to fluent reading. Perhaps most importantly, reading together helps develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of narratives. As children engage with stories, they learn to follow plot lines, understand character motivations, and make connections between different parts of the text, all of which contribute to building strong comprehension skills. While reading at home nurtures various essential literacy skills, the sheer volume of words children are exposed to plays a pivotal role in their overall language development.
The Million Word Gap
Have you heard of the "million word gap"? A study highlighted by Reading Rockets found that children who are read to regularly hear significantly more words by the time they enter kindergarten compared to those who aren't read to at all. This exposure can make a huge difference in a child's language development and future reading success.
If reading isn't already a regular practice in your home, here are some tips to get started:
Start Small: Begin with just 3-4 minutes per day.
Gradually Increase: Add one minute every couple of days.
Aim for 15-20 Minutes: Try to build up to 15-20 minutes of daily reading time.
Did you know? Reading with a child for 20 minutes per day exposes them to approximately 1.4 million more words than children who are not read to!
Keeping the Pressure Low
Remember, the goal is to create positive associations with reading. Here are some low-pressure ways to incorporate reading:
You Do the Reading: Read aloud to your child instead of asking them to read.
Listen to Audiobooks: Enjoy stories together as a family through audiobooks.
Don't forget: Car time counts toward those daily reading minutes!
Check out our Assistive Technology post for some FREE audiobook options through your public library.
What If I Don't Like to Read as a Parent?
Not everyone enjoys reading, and that's okay! There are still plenty of ways to support your child's literacy development and because you may not like to read, we'll keep this part short and sweet.
Play Word or Storytelling Games:
Try "Blah Blah Blah" or "Oui Si" for some fun language development games. (See our GAMES post for more details)
Set an Example: Even if reading isn’t your favorite activity, show your child that you value it—and their growth—by making time for it. Talk to them about what they’re reading. Ask about their favorite books and share yours too.
Play Word Games in the Car:
Cascade Spelling: Choose a category (e.g., animals). The first person spells an animal (C-A-T), and the next person thinks of an animal starting with the last letter (T-U-R-T-L-E).
Guess in 10: One person thinks of an object, and others ask up to 10 yes/no questions to guess what it is.
Alphabet Sentence Game: Create the longest sentence where each word starts with the same letter. Example: Always adventurous, Amber ambles around ancient Argentina.
Alphabet with a Twist: Identify as many objects as you can see that start with a chosen letter (or sound for younger children). Example: B - buses, bridges, buildings, etc.
The Power of Consistency
Remember, consistency is key. Even small, regular efforts can make a big difference in your child's literacy development. By creating a home environment that values and encourages reading and word play, you're setting your child up for success, regardless of your own reading abilities or preferences.
Together, we can transform literacy outcomes and create a brighter future for all learners.
This post is part of our 31 Days of Dyslexia series, offering practical insights for educators and parents. Subscribe and follow along to learn more strategies that can make a difference in the lives of dyslexic learners!
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