Engage your Child. Reading Time.

I read to my two babies every night.  My first born just turned two years old.  My second born just turned eleven months old.  Our days are jammed packed with activities and I know that it gets worse as children get older.  Our kids are off to soccer practice, baseball, field hockey, CCD, language classes, play dates, homework club, tutoring, and more.  The list doesn’t stop.  However, one activity that needs to be on the to-do list every day is reading time.  We call it “book time” in my house.

Here are 5 Ways to Incorporate “Book Time” into your Home.

1.       Add to your nighttime routine.  My nighttime routine consists of making dinner, baths, pajamas, eating dinner, a little TV watching, and then “book time.”  This is my favorite part of the evening.  It is a special bonding time to have with your children just before bed.  I know that my kids are still babies, but I feel like reading is even more essential at elementary and middle school age.

2.       A reading chair/corner.  Some kids need a little persuasion to read.  A reading chair or corner is a great idea to make reading fun.  A child can even decorate it how he/she wants.

3.        Modeling. Sometimes a child finds reading very difficult and gets discouraged.  The modeling technique is the perfect solution to build confidence in reading.  You read a sentence to your child.  Then, have your child read the same sentence back to you.  He is now practicing his phonics skills and sight word vocabulary.

4.       Reading games.  Again, we want to make reading fun.  My favorite reading game is to take blocks and make word dice out of them.  You tape the words to the blocks.  Roll the “dice”.  Now, you have a game.  Instead of boring flashcards, give this game a try.

5.       Reading Apps/YouTube.  My favorite app and/or Youtube channel is ABC Mouse.  The App/website does have a monthly subscription fee; however, you can watch their YouTube Videos for free.  You can practice letters, phonics skills, and sight words.

I encourage all of our students at Think Tutoring to have reading time in their home.  If your child needs more assistance with reading, we would love to help.  Call Think Tutoring for a reading assessment today at 973-593-0050.