Reading for all - Reading Tips for Parents

Reading Tips for Parents

Quick Tips:

Read for pleasure and model good reading habits for your child.
Create a cozy reading spot in your home where your child can read.
Give books or magazine subscriptions as gifts.
Read a favorite book from your childhood with your child.
Take your child on a weekly visit to the library and check out lots of books.
Do a crossword puzzle with your child.
Talk to your child about what you are reading, ask "what", "where", and "how" questions.
Talk with your child about letters of the alphabet.
Repetition is key, it's okay to read the same story over & over!

A mother and infant show the bond that is created between them as they read together.

NEW CELLcasts Help Parents Promote Literacy
The Center for Early Literacy Learning (CELL) just added three new titles to their library of multimedia CELLcasts to help parents promote literacy with their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. CELLcasts are audio/video versions of CELL practices which are available for users to watch and listen to online or download to their iPod/Mp3 player. World of Words teaches parents where to find everyday literacy-rich opportunities in their community. Get Write on It exposes toddlers to ways to encourage early writing. Listen Hear teaches parents how to help their child make letter and sound connections while learning to read and spell. To watch these titles and the many others in the collection, please visit the CELL website.

Jumpstart Summer Reading with Reading Rockets
Does your child experience difficulty getting back into the swing of reading after summer break? Try a steady diet of sizzling summer books! Find tips to encourage your child to read and foster the idea that books are for life - not just for school. Reading Rockets has great tips and articles to jumpstart summer reading!

Things to Do at Home:
The Center for Early Literacy Learning developed practice guides just for parents. These guides help parents understand what skills to develop in infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Available for free download, the guides explore seven topic areas, including Symbols and Letters, Stories and Listening, and Scribbling and Drawing.
To see the guides >

Colorin Colorado
Colorin Colorado Un sitio bilingüe para familias y maestros para ayudar a los niños a leer.

Book Club 4 Boys
Boys, books, and fun! Book Club 4 Boys can help you get the little guy in your life in touch with his inner bookworm.

Babies and Books
See tips for ages 0 through 4 years old at Reading is Fundamental.

Recommended Reading for Parents:

Raising a Reader: A Mother's Tale of Desperation and Delight by Jennie Nash
(St. Martin's Press, 2003)
The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease (Penguin, 2001)
Starting with Comprehension: Reading Strategies for the Youngest Learners by Andie Cunningham and Ruth Shagury (Stenhouse Publishers, 2005)

Washington Learning Systems
Washington Learning Systems has created Free reproducible language and early literacy activities "Supporting Early Literacy in Natural Environments Activities for Parents and Young Children." They include tools for parents with infants and preschool children as well as "On the Go" activities designed to be used outside the home: in the car, while walking, during bus rides, etc.