10 Ways to Raise a Reader and a Writer

Getting Kids Excited about Reading and Writing

This brochure from the National Association for the Education of Young Children comes home with every about-to-be-a-Kindergartner at our school. This is their guide to parents for raising a reader and writer. I just condensed it and added a few ideas of my own.

1. Talk, Sing, and Play with Your Child.

Expand on what your child says.
Talk as you do simple everyday things together.
Recite nursery rhymes and do finger games like the “This Little Pig Went to the Market.”
Describe the child’s activities.

2. Make Time to Read Together Each Day

Don’t forget reading time with dad or granddad– it’s not just a “girl” thing.
Bring a few books when you head out for errands. Waiting at pick-ups for older siblings is a great time to read a book together!

3. Choose Books With Care

Involve your child in the book selection.
Look for books that relate to what’s happening in your child’s life at home. Going on vacation? Starting school?

4. Surround Your Child with Reading Material

Consider subscribing to a children’s magazine. Children love getting mail! National Geographic has some great ones!
Help your preschooler create a book of their own with drawings, photos or other things that have meaning for him or her. My son likes to staple together coloring sheets and then dictate a story to me or create a story using a sheet of stickers.
A librarian suggested keeping (and rotating) a basket of books in the bathroom just to look at.

5. Slow Down and Have Fun

Read at a leisurely pace
Occasionally pose a question or make a remark that will prompt the child to think a little, express himself, or relate the story to his own experience (even if your child’s response to you is, “Mommy, just read the story!”)

6. Read It Again … And Again!

Repetition is great for kids!
If the books are really of good quality, you won’t mind as much!

7. Foster Your Child’s Awareness of Print and How We Use It

Point out everyday print like street and store signs
Provide magnetic or plastic letters to play with.
Write notes for kids to read…lunch boxes are great places for this!

8. Provide a Variety of Writing Tools and Materials

Stock a writing area with scrap paper, used greeting cards, bank forms, mail-order tear off cards, envelopes and notebooks.
Provide different kinds of markers, pens, crayons, pencils and other writing tools such as alphabet stampers and letter stencils.
Allow children to use the computer to write.

9. Don’t Push or Pressure Children About What or When to Read

Don’t nag your child to read.
Comic books count!

10. Show Children that You Value Their Efforts

Display their work prominently.
Ask your child to read to you, even if it’s just one word a page. Rhyming books are great for a child to read the last word of each page.
If a child makes a mistake when reading aloud, don’t interrupt. If the mistake doesn’t change the meaning, let it go.
Respond positively to the message in your children’s writing rather than focus on the handwriting or spelling.

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