
Source: Wikipedia Commons author Tim Pearce
I have always loved books from a young age and want that to be passed on to my kids. Learning to read is one of those big milestones for every kid and you can support your child on their development.
Start Young
Bedtime routine has included story time since my boys were young and it's a great time to snuggle up together and enjoy an adventure. Before even learning to read, they have an understanding about the magic that words can hold and so learning to read is less daunting and they know the purpose.
Now that my eldest is a little older and has started to read himself, we do a combination. He reads me one of his books and then I read him a chapter from a Roald Dahl book. We're reading the BFG at the moment and he loves it. I keep telling him that if he practises his reading then he'll be able to read books like this one day himself.

This is an amazing pop up dinosaur book that keeps my son's interest for along time
Phonetics
Most kids start learning to reading by learning the phonetic sounds of letters rather than the traditional A,B,C capitals. This has a great advantage when learning to read as it helps children to understand the sound of the letter and later to work out what a word is without having to memorise the word itself. As they develop they learn to run the sounds of letters together and form words. It's been a real joy to see my eldest son start to read independently and he's now reading simple books to his younger brother.
Link words to pictures or objects
It might not be the most designer look in your house, but you can start to link words to pictures or objects. Write out words on paper and stick them to different items around the house. You could also cut up old magazines and add the relevant words.
Interesting Books and Stories
Learning to read is also more engaging if your child enjoys what they are reading. Look out for simple stories designed for children. If you're bored, they probably are too. It's also key not to push them beyond their capabilities. Many of the books designed for children come in stages and you can work with your child's teacher to understand what stage they are at.
Make It Fun
Learning to read shouldn't be a chore. In the early stages when they're learning their letters you can try lots of different supporting aids to keep up their interest and make it more of a game. Try colourful flash cards, or draw letters in a
tray of salt.
Related Articles
#Education
#Learning
#Reading
#Homework