Helping Primary Pupils with Reading at Home

For many of us, reading is one of life’s great pleasures, one that we want to hand on to our children. Here are some strategies to use when passing on this essential skill.

Have fun with reading

For increased motivation, you want your child to think of reading as something enjoyable.

For instance, you could:

  • Show them how much you’re enjoying reading with them.
  • Let them read books to you they’ve practised at school.
  • Choose books with them that they want to read.
  • Read to them.
  • You read to them, but stop at words they can probably read.
  • Try ‘Paired Reading’ 
  • Share the reading with them – one page each, or your child could read what one character in the story says.
  • Look at the pictures together.
  • Have one difficult book that they want to read and read it to them, and one easier book that they can have a go at.
  • Re-read favourite books.
  • Talk to them about what’s going to happen in the story, whose side you’re on, etc. Ask their opinion. Here are some questions you can ask about books
  • Avoid reading with them when their (or your!) favourite programme is on TV.
  • Include a range of fiction and non-fiction.

Have a routine for reading

Establish a set time for reading e.g. just before bed.

This should be different to the time for doing homework

A small amount, say 15 minutes, every day is best.

Try alternatives to books

For example, try comics, magazines, newspapers, catalogues and brochures.

E books or audio books are entertaining and are available online e.g. from World Book Online or Audible.

 

Older children might like to research a favourite topic online.

Spot words in subtitles

While watching TV together, you could mute the sound and put the subtitles on the bottom of the screen e.g. during a favourite cartoon.

Your child might learn to recognise some of the words.

Helping your child with reading longer words

Identifying the ‘base’ word in a longer word and the parts that are added to it can be a helpful tool for breaking down a word in reading.

Here is an example with words associated with  ‘Joy.’

Reading as part of other activities

Let them take turns to read instructions for a game or follow a recipe.

Or you could try making a book together, perhaps for a younger sibling such as a pop-up or lift the flap book.

You could make up a play for the family and video it to send to extended family and friends.

It’s important to relax

It’s a worry when your child is struggling to learn to read or write. But if you are anxious when you try to help them, they will be anxious too – and that will make it difficult for them to learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Useful websites:

For books for children

www.booktrust.org.uk

www.audible.co.uk/ep/kids-audiobooks

www.storynory.com

www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/audio-stories/zh3t2sg

 www.sightwords.com

For information

www.readingrockets.org/audience/parents

www.thedyslexia-spldtrust.org.uk/4/resources/284/how-can-i-help-my-child-at-home