What To Do When Your Kid Does Not Know How To Read

The importance of reading is so many and some may be obvious while others aren’t. It is general knowledge that reading is good but why it is so, can be questionable. Most especially for children, why is it so important that they can read and how do you help your kid to read? These are the questions that the article seeks to answer below. I will list out some reasons why your kid needs to learn how to read

1. Expose your kids to new things

By reading you expose your kids to new things. They acquire new information; learn new ways to solve problems and new ways to achieve things. Since kids are naturally curious, reading can easily become one of their hobbies and they may fall in love with it. Who knows, by they may end up reading something that catches their interest and that could turn out to be their career. Through books your kid can explore so many things, places and even go back in time.

2. It is a means of self-improvement

Reading is an avenue for your kid to improve him or herself. Through reading their minds become to get filled up with information’s that will give them a greater understanding of the world and how things work. They can be able to read about topics that will help them improve themselves like “how to build self-confidence” etc. without the ability to read they sure would not be able to create a way for better understanding and better actions to be taken on the future.

3. Improve understanding

With reading your kid gets to understand topics or issues pertaining to a thing. It is a general knowledge that in order to play a game well, you need to be familiar with the rules set down. Hence, your kid with the ability to read will become accustomed to the rules of life, and how to adapt, adopt and accommodate society. For instance, if your kid reads a book about birds, he or she will discover the different types of birds, what they eat, how they reproduce, communicate among themselves etc…

4. Preparation to action

Before you take any action on anything, you would need to seek help and guidance. Reading is one of the ways that your kid and get this knowledge. In today’s world, knowledge is gained through books and these can be in various forms like reviews and feedback from other people through books, magazines, newsletters or any other kind of writing form. Without the ability to read, your kid would not be able to get the best information to take an action. Actions like how to read a menu, a holiday trip guide, read a manual etc. these help your kid to be a better-informed person.

5. Gain experience from other people.

By reading, your kid can gain experience from other people who write about their experiences in various fields. If your kid wants to start a business per se, he or she will have to learn from those that have been in that same business and can tap from their experience in order not to make the same mistake they did. Your kid will be able to apply principles and steps that others had done before him or her so that they can get the best results. It has been said that to be one of the Greats you need to learn from the Greats.

6. Tool of communication

By knowing how to read, your kid gets to be a better-informed person and can be able to understand and communicate better with people he or she converses with. Through reading, he or she builds a solid foundation for communicating because he will always have something to share when a conversation goes on. Someone who has nothing to share is probably someone that does not understand what people are saying.

7. Boost imagination and creativity

Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, showing you nothing is impossible in this world. It is an opportunity for your kid to see things from a different perspective, and how actions can lead to different results. Books are just like a spider web and can keep your kid busy trying to link things together.

Now that you know how valuable it is for your kid to know how to read, you can now ensure that your kid knows how to do it. Parents can find it distressing that their kids can’t read but it is good to know that parents can aid their kids in these aspects. Reading plays a role in the future success of your kid and this is why it is important that your kid knows at an early age how to read.

Below are ways in which you can help your school age kid to read

1. Introduce reading at an early stage

There is nothing like early reading is bad. It is good to introduce your kid to reading as early as possible. So read to your kid as soon as they are born or even before they are born, to nurture the desire for books. If your kids are already grown-ups, it is not too late, start reading and help your kid to get better.

2. You do not need to be an expert or teacher

Teaching Literacy can be compared to teaching your kid how to eat with a spoon, use a potty etc. you can teach your kid how to read pleasantly or they can be a painful chore. Do no yell or shout, punish your kid because that will not work and can be frustrating for everyone. If your kid does not show interest in reading books, put it away and come back again. Learn to enjoy the hassle and do not put pressure, they will come around if you keep insisting.

3. Talk to your kid all the time

Studies have shown that if you expose your child to a variety of words when they are young, it helps them to develop literacy skills.

4. Read to your kids

One of the fastest ways for your kid to learn is from you. Make sure that you read too and they see you doing so, by reading you are also able to read to them. in the situation, where you are unable to read, then you could use audiobooks too.

5. Take their diction

You can tell your kid to try to recount an experience by writing it down or to make it a story. These stories can be simple like the activities of the day, about their teacher. You can ask them to write it and read it out loud too. Overtime, your kid will be able to recognize certain words an

6. Introduce your kid to phonics

Play language games with your kid. Learn to make them pay attention to the sound within the words. You can check out toy store websites and find products that are based on letters and sounds or even download apps for tablets and programs. You can also go the conventional way to just pencil and paper are sufficient. Keep the lessons brief and fun and no more than 5-10 minutes for your kids.

7. Promote writing

Literacy involves reading and writing and having the ability to read will help your kid. Encourage your kid to write and one of the ways to do so is to write notes or short letters to him or her. It won’t be long before he or she is trying to write back to you.

8. Engage discussions

When your kid reads, get him or her to retell you the information or story. Ask questions about the story. Reading is not just about saying the words but also about understanding because it really shows that your kid knows the meaning of the words they are saying.

9. Be a model

Make reading a part of your daily life and your kids will love it too. Take your kids to the library and engage them, set challenges and reward them as they make progress.

In conclusion, reading is the key to academic success for your kid. With the steps mentioned above, you can be sure of seeing your kid being capable of reading in no time at all.