How can you help your child become a better reader?

"Read Me a Story: Helping Your Children Become Better Readers," which was produced by VISA, is a little pamphlet loaded with helpful tips for parents who want to encourage their children to make reading a useful and enjoyable habit.The pamphlet offers the following suggestions:

- Babies and toddlers (newborn to age 2) - Read aloud for only a few minutes at a time, then increase slowly as the child becomes more willing to listen.

Parents would be wise to schedule a daily time for reading with the child, a session that could include reciting nursery rhymes and singing songs to help kids develop an ear for language.

- Preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) - Encourage preschoolers to join in the reading at key points, such as pausing so they can fill in a rhyming word or repeating line - "I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down."

Conscientious parents will work on open-ended questions that will provoke thoughtful answers, such as "What do you think is going to happen next?" or "Why do you think he did that?"

- Soon-to-be Readers (pre-kindergarten through first grade) - Playfully reinforce letter names and sounds with the pre-kindergarten through first-grade child. Play "I spy something that starts with a `p' sound."

Parents may also take children to places that will provide knowledge to help them understand the words they're reading.

- Beginning readers (kindergarten through second grade) - Let a beginning reader share some of the reading aloud. Don't worry if your child doesn't notice or correct all mistakes.

If the child seems to think the reading is tedious or difficult, take over so the beginner will not think hard work overpowers the fun.

Parents can also leave notes for a child to discover on the refrigerator or in a lunch bag.

Take a child to the library to sign up for his or her own library card. As the child reads more, be sure to talk about what books you read together and also about the books your children are reading on their own.

- Developing readers (second and third grade) - Don't stop reading aloud.

Suggest your child read to a younger brother, sister or to a neighbor child.

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Help your reader catch and correct mistakes by asking guiding questions. "Does that word really make sense here?"

- Independent readers (third grade and up) - Help your child find more reasons to write, such as taking messages, making shopping lists, writing letters or answering e-mail.

Above all, let your child see you read, and share the interesting things you read with him or her.

Tell stories to your child, passing on family history while you build the child's listening and thinking skills.

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