Reading and Writing Tips for Parents and Kids

1. Record-a-story: This is a great way to allow your infant or child hear you read a story to him, especially when you are not around. Record yourself reading a favorite story on tape and let him/her listen to it throughout the day or at bedtime. Another version of this idea is to have your emerging reader record him/herself reading a story that he/she enjoys and can read fairly successfully. This will help boost their reading enthusiasm and make reading a fun activity.


2. Create-a-story: Using software such as Storybook Weaver, allows your older child to create text and select graphics to illustrate their very own story.


3. Story starters: Give your child a topic to tell or write a story about, such as "I remember when…" and see how much they can tell you or write down about a time in their life that they remember. This is a great way to increase their creative thinking and writing skills as well as storytelling abilities. Later on it makes a great way to start their very own book or journal.


4. Journal: Write down milestones throughout the day that your infant or child can be proud of. When they are older they will find joy in reading about their early years while also improving their reading listening and writing skills. Older children can illustrate these milestones or find magazine pictures to cut and paste the activities they are caught doing.

Finally, never pressure your child into reading but make reading an every day activity by asking them to help you read directions, read signs as your drive to and from school or have them tell you a story about their day. Reading and communication go hand in hand. Sometimes just talking about their day in sequential order is a good way to get them to think in reading and writing terms.