Reading support

How to encourage your child to read

Read yourself!

Set a good example by reading for fun and talking about the reading you do at work and at home. Let your child know that books and reading are an important part of your life.

Don’t stop reading to your child

Some children enjoy being read to long after they are fluent readers themselves.

Visit the library

Take the family to join the local library – it’s free! Make a weekly visit.

Agree on a time to read

Set aside a time for family reading – after school or before bedtime.

Don’t just read books

Encourage your child to read newspapers, articles and magazines.

Talk about books

Talk to your child and their friends about their book preferences. Talk about the books you like to read.

Let your child read with younger children

Encourage them to read to younger members of the family.

Keep in touch with school

Talk with teachers about your child’s reading. They will be able to tell you if your child needs any extra help. Find out which books your child is reading in class and read them as well. You can then discuss them together.

If English is not your child’s first language

You can buy dual language books. You can talk about books and stories in any language.

If your child is a reluctant reader

Use the 10 reasons why reading is important below to encourage and motivate them:

1. Improves your creativity and imagination.
2. Helps you learn.
3. Increases your vocabulary (avid readers have a 50% larger vocabulary than non-readers – Stanovich).
4. Improves memory.
5. Increases your concentration and attention span – some GCSE exams are over two hours long! So reading will definitely help here.
6. Improves your writing skills.
7. Reduces stress.
8. Could help you live longer! (Yale University research – up to two years).
9. Boosts your empathy.
10. Expands your understanding of the world.

How to help your child with reading

Spot words inside words

Help them to spot words they know within larger, more complicated words.

Don’t make them try too hard!

It doesn’t matter if you have to tell them the word sometimes.

Let them read their favourites

Don’t worry if they want to read the same books again, or stick to one kind of book. If they get really stuck, ask the librarian or teacher to recommend something they might like.

Make the story come to life

Encourage your child to read aloud with expression, so the story comes to life. This will help them more fluently.

Discuss books

Ask your child to tell you about the books they are reading: the type of book, the characters, the plot. Encourage them to have an opinion – was it a good book? Why?

Use a dictionary

Buy your child a dictionary and encourage them to use it to check the meanings of new words.

In need of advice or support?

If you are concerned about your child’s reading skills or would like further advice about supporting your child’s reading, please contact either:

Mrs Norman (Assistant Principal (Deep Support) and SENDCO) or

Mr Baybutt (Assistant Principal (Deep Learning))

T: 01904 686400

E: admin@millthorpe.elt.org.uk