All parents want school success for their children. Like most activities, learning to read will be easier for children if they have already developed a few readiness skills. Spend time in pre-school years reading aloud and gradually exposing your child to a few simple ideas that will give them a head start with learning to read at school.

There are three early reading strategies your child will need before the world of books and reading makes sense. These are being able to differentiate between pictures and text, knowing that text carries a message and that there are directional movement rules when reading. These can all be integrated naturally when sharing books with young children.

Differentiate Between Pictures and Text

This may seem obvious to you, but because books for small children carry much of the story in the pictures, your child doesn’t automatically know that you’re reading those black marks on the page, not just innovating from the pictures.

Talk about the pictures first, and then show them the words. Point to where you are going to start reading the story.  Make unobtrusive comments about there being lots of or not many words on a page. As your child becomes more aware of the difference between text and pictures, ask them to identify where the text is on a page. Then ask them to predict what the story may be about from the pictures. Suggest you read the word to them to see if they are right. Eventually children will follow the words with you as you read. I’m sure many of you will have been accused of missing out a word when you’re reading a favourite book aloud.

Text Carries a Message

Whether reading for pleasure or for information, as adults we expect text to make sense. We read to understand the information or to enjoy the story.

The reason many young readers struggle is because they are initially so focussed on letters and words, they forget about the message. If you talk to your child about the story as you progress through the book, they will have a better understanding of it. Getting them to predict what might happen next is an important learning step, as it helps with understanding the story.

Starting Point and Directional Movement

Knowing where to start and which way to go is of vital importance in reading. Again, this may seem obvious to you, but children often find it confusing at first, especially if the pictures dominate the page. Start by showing the child where you are starting to read, then run your finger along the text as you read aloud. Eventually ask your child to show you where to start reading. Remind them the left page is read before the right page.

To an adult dropping and returning to the left of the next line is automatic, but not to a pre-school child. Without interfering with the story run your finger along the line of text and then let the child observe how your finger returns to the left of the next line. It won’t take long for that habit to become absorbed as one of a child’s early reading strategies.

School Success

Parental involvement is so important in preparing children for school. You do not have to be an expert to be able to share books with your child in a fun and natural way. Incorporating the above ideas will set a good foundation for reading success at school.