One of the joys of parenting children includes teaching them how to read. Reading opens the door to a big, exciting world. As a parent, you can begin an endless learning chain like this: You read to your children, they develop a love of stories and poems, they want to read on their own, they practice reading, and finally, they read for their own information or pleasure. When children become readers, their world is forever wider and richer.
Here are some things you can do:
* Read aloud to your child: books, newspaper and magazine articles, the back of the cereal box, labels on cans, or directions.
* Read poems aloud together to learn about rhythm and repeated sounds in language.
* Point to the words on the page when you read. Move your finger from left to right.
* Listen to your child read homework or favorite stories to you every day.
* Go to the library together and check out books. Be sure to ask the librarian for good books or to help you find what you need.
* Have books, magazines, and papers around the house, and let your child see that you like to read, too.
* Encourage older children to read to younger children.
