How to help a child read: Our top 18 tips

1. Read books based on current events

At Santa Academy, we love reading Christmas stories. And we are big on helping children learn to read. We think it is important to encourage kids to read during events and holidays. Not only does this teach them about history and traditions, but it helps them learn to read! So, at Christmas, be sure to snuggle up with your little one and read a Christmas story with them.

We have a collection of kids Christmas stories that we think will be great for you to try! Plus, we covered what makes the best Christmas books so great.

2. Read to children

One of the simplest ways of how to help a child read is by reading to them. Kids love hearing stories and if you’re enthusiastic about books they’ll love them even more! Act out scenes with your child and use silly voices. The more fun, the more they’ll learn. If they’re on your lap, point to the words as you read them so they will learn as they listen.

3. Use songs and rhymes to help with phonemic awareness

Did you know that nursery rhymes and songs are one of the best ways of helping children to read? Nursery rhymes and songs are popular with kids because they sound fun. They are an excellent way to learn too! They are great for helping your little ones to develop their speech. They also help them to develop auditory skills and to train the muscles in their tongue/mouth. This helps them with pronunciation, so it is amazing for helping children learn to read.

4. Listen to them read

A helpful way of how to help kids learn to read is by listening to them read. You can pick up on the areas where they may be struggling. If they find it hard to sound out some words for example. You can then help them to overcome these challenges. Having someone correct them is another way of helping children to read.  

5. Magnetic letters

Looking for a fun way for kids to become familiar with letters and reading? Encourage them to play with magnetic letters. Most people have these fun little items on their fridge. If you don’t, why not buy a pack and see what words your child can make?

You could turn it into a game by asking them to spell out a particular word. Or ask them to make their own unique word and ask them to try to pronounce it. This can help them to familiarise themselves with the sounds associated with each letter.

6. Play letter/word games

Kids love games so it is important to make learning time as fun as possible. It will motivate them to try harder and progress further. Next time you’re in the car, on the way to school perhaps, play a word game. This could be asking them to spell a word or to recite the alphabet. It is a great way of helping children to read.

You could also play games like hangman where you get your kids to guess letters and words. This will massively develop their spelling and is another way of helping children learn to read.

7. Stick labels around the house

Still wondering how to help a child read? A technique many people use when learning another language is to leave sticky notes on random items around the house. This can also work well for kids! Seeing notes on objects or pieces of furniture will help them to remember the names and their spelling.

If you are with your little one, ask them what a particular note says. Or you could take the note down and ask them the name/how it is spelt. It is a test disguised as a game.

8. Use printed pictures for them to look at in their room

Similar to our previous point, having pictures and posters to look at is great for kids. They find bright colours intriguing and will engage with them more. So, if you have images of animals, for example, with the spelling underneath, they will find it easier to learn.

9. Have your child tell you a story or write one

Another great way of how to help kids learn to read is to have them practice their writing skills. By writing, they are exercising their literacy skills a lot more than reading, as they are doing the work. They will likely focus a lot more on trying to remember the spellings of words. Their minds will also focus on the pronunciation of words as they write them.

Afterwards, ask them to read their story aloud to you. Again, this helps with pronunciation and improves phonemic awareness. This is a fun exercise that they will enjoy. You could then go back over their work and help them to recognise any mistakes in spelling or grammar.

10. See which books they show an interest in

Sometimes kids just aren’t interested in books. One of the best ways to encourage them to read is by letting them choose their own book. If you’re at a shop or the library, see which book grabs their attention. A book with a dinosaur or a dog might capture them. We all know we enjoy activities more if we are already interested in the topic.

Another tip with dinosaur books is that non-fiction ones can be a real challenge even for the adults. Try pronouncing Huehuecanauhtlus for example. Jokes aside, some of the scientific dinosaur names can be a great challenge for your kids. They will focus a lot more on each syllable and develop their pronunciation.

11. Make reading a regular activity

We are all familiar with the adage that practice makes perfect. In this case it is absolutely true, the more reading you do, the better you will get. So regular reading is one of the best ways of helping children learn to read. Making reading time a regular activity will encourage your kids to stay in the habit of reading. This is important as many children lose interest in reading as they get older. They are also likely to be way more excited to stick to this routine if it’s fun.

12. Let them listen to audiobooks in the car or at night

Most of us love listening to music, but audiobooks are also a great alternative. Why not listen to an audiobook in the car or before your kids go to bed? This is great if you do not have the time to read to them yourself.

13. Have a cosy place in the home dedicated for reading

There’s nothing better than feeling cosy. So, it’s a great idea to dedicate somewhere in your home as the designated reading area. You could make this space as cosy as you like, with plants and fairy lights. Even some fluffy pillows and blankets. Your kids will love being in this little nook and it will make them all the more excited to read!

14. Celebrate famous writers by reading their books on their birthdays

A fun way to encourage your kids to broaden their reading horizons is to read the works of various authors. Look up the birthdays of some famous writers and encourage your kids to read their books in celebration.

15. Read the book then watch the movie

A lot of kids love movies. So, another great way to get them reading is to read the book before watching the movie. It can be exciting to see how film producers take books and make them into another media. So, your kids will enjoy experiencing both versions. If they prefer films, they will likely enjoy the book too as they’ll see the film as a reward. Rewarding them for learning will motivate them to continue, so it’s a great way of helping children learn to read.

16. Fill your home with books

Filling your home with books is a wonderful way of helping children to read, as it keeps them interested. The more they see books, the more likely they’ll be curious to investigate. If they find ones they really enjoy, then they are even more likely to keep reading! 

17. Go on adventures to the library

Kids love adventures (and so do adults, even if they don’t always admit it). So, treating a trip to the library as an adventure can get your kids excited about choosing their next book.  

18. Use cooking books

Perhaps a slightly unusual way of helping your kids to read is by having them read cookbooks. Let them see which tasty treats they may enjoy making. Then make them! This is a super fun activity. And your child will become more adept at reading instructions and less ‘creative’ forms of writing. We know how exciting it is to cook. So, if you need ideas for what tasty treats to make, we have plenty of suggestions!

We hope our tips have been useful with how to help kids learn to read. Remember, learning is fun, and it is the best way to keep your kids engaged.

Need ideas for more activities?

Finding Christmas things to do with kids during the holidays can sometimes be a challenge. We hope our blog has helped you with some ideas! If you are still looking for ideas, we have more at Santa Academy.

Take a look at Christmas stories every day on the Lacus Herald, written by our Author, Jill. Or stay up to date with the little one’s favourite characters and all the latest news from Lacus Island.

Find more fun, festive tips and ideas, such as:

• Easy Christmas crafts for kids
• Christmas printables
• Things to do near you for Christmas
• Christmas activity book ideas
• Christmas art ideas
• Christmas party ideas for kids
• Tips for helping kids to read
• Christmas baking for kids
• Christmas countdown ideas for your family
• Christmas writing ideas
• And many more!