Many of the things you can do to help your child learn to read are easy. In fact, you probably do many of these things without even knowing it.
Talk.
Talk a lot to your child and encourage her talk to you. The more words and sentences your child hears, and the more he practices them by talking to you, the more he will understand about how language works. That's the first step in becoming a reader, and it starts when kids are babies. Tell stories and jokes.
Play.
Let your child have plenty of play time. It's good when kids make up stories while they are playing with trucks or dolls or blocks or other toys. If she is using her imagination, she is using language to have fun. And she is practicing words. When you play with your child, it's a great time for the two of you—or the whole family—to talk a lot.
Go places.
When you go places, there are often lots of new things to talk about. You don't have to go far. Even taking a different route to the bus stop or the convenience store or the laundromat will mean new things to see. Tell your child stories about special things you did as a little boy or little girl. Ask him or her questions about what you are seeing together.
Read.
Reading together every day is one of the best things you can do with your child to help him or her become a stronger reader. Even little babies enjoy cuddling up and looking at picture books together. As your little one gets bigger, let him or her choose stories to read together. It works well if you make it part of your routine every day, like right before your child goes to bed.
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