Jason Renz Barrios, Researcher

Learning how to read independently can be quite daunting for some children. Those who are just beginning are often reluctant to practice reading on their own -- not because of a lack of ability, but because they lack either interest or confidence. How can parents inspire their kids to read?

Since 2006, THE LEARNING LIBRARY has helped thousands of children become confident readers. Our long-time teachers Ana Bautista and Jade Losaria share their best parent tips for encouraging children to read at home:

Read with them

Reading on their own might still be a challenge, so having a companion helps. “Daily shared reading is one of the best ways to practice,” says Teacher Jade. Guide your child as they read through the pages of a book. Give hints when they are struggling to read a word. You can also take this opportunity of reading along with them to bond with your child. They’ll learn to anticipate daily reading time with you.

Don’t push too hard

Every child has his or her own pace for learning to read. “Don’t push them into reading more than they want, but start with things you know they can confidently do already,” Teacher Ana recommends.. The more you push, the more likely they’ll refuse and lose interest. Make reading as fun as possible by treating it as a hobby to develop instead of a skill they’re forced to learn.

Focus on their interests

Take advantage of what they like -- let them read what they enjoy. Expose them to a wide variety of books and let them decide what’s interesting. If she’s a big fan of superheroes, let her read superhero comics. If he loves dinosaurs, get informative dinosaur board books. If they have reading material that piques their interest, practicing reading will come easier as they already have relevant vocabulary and prior knowledge of the topic.

Make reading interactive

Prepare guide questions every time they practice reading. “Keep reading as interactive as possible by asking questions about what they’ve read,” both Teacher Ana and Teacher Jade suggest. They not only get engaged, they improve their reading comprehension skills at the same time. Remember -- the goal of all reading is comprehension.

Get help if needed

“Some kids really listen more to a teacher,” Teacher Jade observes. Having a reading coach for your child -- at least for a certain period of time -- may be the best way to build momentum and inspire your child to practice reading more.

Developing your child’s confidence takes a lot of patience and encouragement. At THE LEARNING LIBRARY, we make reading relevant and fun by anchoring our reading programs on the best children’s books, which our students learn to love. To know more about our literature-based reading programs, visit www.learninglibraries.com or call 0917-8282669.