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Reading is an essential part of early childhood education. Unfortunately, it can be difficult for some preschool children to concentrate during this activity. If your child is having trouble focusing while reading, here are a few steps you can take to help them.

How to Increase Your Child’s Attention on Reading

1. Let Them Take Breaks

It’s hard for children to sit still for very long. Forcing them to read for lengthy periods can take the fun out of it and make it more difficult to focus on the task.

Schedule reading breaks every 15-20 minutes, and encourage your child to move around during these breaks. Regular movement can help children stay more focused on other tasks and will make reading feel less like a chore. 

2. Give Them Some Control

While you shouldn’t let educationunenthusiastic readers completely skip out on the activity, dealing with reading like a homework assignment will likely make it less fun for your child. The education process will be more enjoyable for both of you if your child feels involved with their reading.

Let them pick from a selection of books that talk about their interests. Read with your child and let them voice their favorite characters. This will promote the idea that they’re choosing to read, and they’ll be more excited about it. 

3. Minimize Distractions

Give your child a quiet spot to read without any noises or distractions that can make it difficult to focus. You may want to set up a designated reading nook that’s far from busy rooms of the house, such as the kitchen or family room, and has no TV or electronics present. Some light meditation or piano music may also improve their concentration. 

4. Make It Fun

Reading should be enjoyable, so try to find ways your child will look forward to the activity every day. You could make a reading schedule with prize incentives when books are finished or celebrate the accomplishment by watching a TV show or movie based on the book they read.

Ask your child to tell you about what they’re reading and to explain the story to you. Take them to the bookstore and let them buy one book every month that they’ll be excited to read.

 

If you’re having a hard time getting your child to focus on reading, consider an in-home reading tutor from Reading in Preschool. Serving families in New York City, this tutoring service can help your child improve their education and reading skills from home. They use a unique learning program to keep kids excited and interested in learning how to read. Call (917) 723-1159 to learn more about their services. 

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