Top tips to support reading at home
Here are some top tips for reading with your child. If you can find the time beforehand, read the read-aloud book to yourself first, so you can think about how you’re going to read it to your child.
On the first reading:
▪ Make reading aloud feel like a treat. Make it a special quiet time and cuddle up so you can both see the book.
▪ Show curiosity about what you’re going to read: ‘This book looks interesting. What do you think it is about? Talk about the front cover.
▪ Read through the whole story the first time without stopping too much.
▪ Read with enjoyment and lots of expression. Read favourite stories over and over again.
On later readings:
▪ When reading now, pause and get your child to think about and comment on the pictures.
▪ If you think your child did not understand something, try to explain: ‘Oh! I think what’s happening here is that… Do you think that too?’
▪ Chat about the story and pictures: ‘I wonder why she did that?’; ‘Oh no, I hope she’s not going to…’; ‘What would you have done if you were her?’
▪ Link the stories to your own family experiences: ‘This reminds me of when …’
▪ Link stories to others that your child knows: ‘Ah! Do you remember the dragon in ….? Do you remember what happened to him?’
▪ Encourage your child to join in with the bits they know when you are reading together.