Reading is important...

A mother reads aloud to her children.

Reading has always been an important skill. In our modern world it is more important than ever.

Children learn about the importance of reading as they watch family members use reading and writing for everyday purposes.

Reading with your child at home will help your child in all learning areas at school.

Children see you reading and writing in everyday life - reading for pleasure, sharing a story with your child using recipe, making a shopping list, writing a birthday card or reading street signs. This teaches them that reading and writing are useful skills in today's world.

Often parents are asked by the school to listen to their child read at home. It's a good way of supporting your child's reading. Books may be borrowd from school or public libraries or just come to our library.

Be confident that your child will learn to read and love to read.

What can you do at home to help?

1. Be yourself. Involve children in everyday conversations.
2. Read aloud to children. It helps children learn the language of books and will encourage them to enjoy books and reading.
3. Talk about books, read together and make reading an enjoyable, shared activity.
4. Have a wide range of reading material for your child at home, both fiction and non-fiction.
5. Try not to let television intrude on reading time. Make a special time for reading with your child, away from interruptions.
6. Listen to your child read every day, even for a short time.
7. Give books as treats and presents.

Hints for listening to your child read...

1. Before reading: talk about the cover, the title, the pictures, and discuss what the book may be about.
2. During reading: discuss the story so far and try to guess what happens next.
3. After reading: talk and ask questions about the story and pictures. Play word puzzles and do some drawing.
4. When reading a harder book, together takes turns. Beginning readers can read the repetitive parts and more experienced readers can read a paragraph or a page.
5. When you come across an unknown word...

• Go back to the beginning of the sentence, or read past the difficult word to the end of the sentence
• Look for a clue in the picture or the words
• Look at the first letter(s) and think ablout what the word could be
• Ask, "Does this make sense?"
• Tell your child the word if necessary
• PRAISE your child for trying even if mistakes are made

What to read and do...

1. Play games such as "I Spy ... something beginning with d."

2. Ask your child to read out simple recipes.

3. Read comics, magazines, short stories, poems and rhymes.

4. Read nespapers together.

5. Do crosswords and other word puzzles.

6. Read the TV guide before watching a program.

7. Look at letterbox leaflets.

8. Read directions and signs when driving.

9. Play board games and read the rules.

10. Provide plastic letters (eg. fridge magnets), crayons, pencils, pens and papers.

And do remember...

• Discuss the meaning of stories and words
• Encourage reading
• Let your child see you enjoying reading
• Borrow books for your child and yourself
• Enjoy Reading

It Should be Fun!