With tablets and video games as common distractors in the home, parents often ask the teachers at Mendon Child Care Center how they can help their child read. This Monroe County, NY, early learning center says making reading a part of the everyday routine is the best way to help your student develop a love for literature, enhance vocabulary, and improve comprehension. With the onset of the new school year, these experts have a few tips for assisting your little one with reading.

How to Help Your Child Improve Their Reading Skills

Read Often

Read to your child as often as you can. Whether you start a bedtime story tradition or sit down to read a few pages after dinner, this shared activity helps enrich vocabulary, improve language skills, and boost literary achievement. As your child gets older and starts attending an early learning center, encourage them to read along with you and sound out difficult words.

Take Field Trips to the Library

Just like touring science museums or visiting the zoo, get your child excited about spending an afternoon at the library. Schedule regular family outings, and make it an adventure to scout out new titles, find the next book from their favorite author, or research topics like dinosaurs and Egyptian pyramids.

Offer Variety

Often, children claim to not enjoy reading because they have not found a genre they enjoy. Combat this by constantly bringing new titles to read at bedtime or taking them to bookstores and libraries. The variety of books available at these locations will help picky readers find a topic that captures their interest, whether it’s space travel or mystery books.  

Turn Reading Into a Family Activity

Your child will be more likely to read if their parents and siblings are doing it too! Instead of family movie night, set up a relaxing area (like a living room blanket fort), and ask everyone to bring a book. Devote at least an hour to silent reading, then lead a family discussion so everyone can share what book they brought.

During these formative years, learning and development are vital. That’s why Mendon Child Care Center believes in instilling a love of reading in young children. The early learning center provides separate programs for infants, toddlers, preschool and pre-K aged children, and after-school care for children up to age 8. Their curriculum emphasizes the distinct milestones, needs, and desires of kids at every stage of development. To learn more, call their team today at (585) 624-2337 or visit their website.