March is often the time for Parent-Teacher conferences, so now is a great time for parents to ask what can be done at home to help their young readers, and for teachers to give some guidance about how parents can do this. 

As parents, you don’t need to spend a lot of time with your kids to help them read. You just have to be creative with what time you have. Here are some ways to support your young readers.   

Utilize playtime. 

Whether it’s playing with their stuffed toys, playing pretend, or making pizza together, you can use these activities to engage your kids, introduce more words to their vocabulary, work their imagination, and encourage them to think more. 

Talk to your child while you’re reading together. 

When reading with your child, interject some observations you make. It can be about the plot, characters, words, or anything else that piques interest. Ask them what they think about different points in the story. This activity extends the thinking about the book and extends the conversations you have with your child about the book. 

Have your child read to you. 

This is a great practice for your kids, and it helps them with speech and oral reading. If you need help finding books at the literacy level of your child, the parent-teacher conferences are a great opportunity to consult with your teachers and ask them for suggestions. 

Family reading time 

Block out a few minutes each day when you and your child are all reading together. This can be done when the kids need to unwind a little bit, whether it’s from being outside or after finishing a series of activities.  

For more tips and practical examples, listen to the full episode and stay tuned for the next episode if you want to hear a part 2 on this topic. 

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