Early and developing readers: guidance for parents
Selecting books
Learning about your own likes and dislikes is an important part of becoming a reader. You can help your child to choose by:
- Allowing plenty of time for browsing in libraries and bookshops. Support your child by talking about authors, illustrators, reading the blurb, reading the opening pages to them or encouraging them to read a little bit for themselves.
- Finding out about authors and series of books which might be suitable for the age group.
- Encouraging children to self-monitor by using the five finger test (for double pages of around 100 words or more). If they are struggling with a book this will help them understand whether this is due to the complexity of the vocabulary:
- THE FIVE FINGER TEST
- Open the book somewhere in the middle and select a full page of text
- Read the page (aloud if possible)
- Put one finger up for every word you cannot pronounce or do not know
- If you get five fingers up on one page, the book is probably too difficult for you to read independently
- If you do not hold up any fingers but are reading very slowly because you are having to decode every word, you may not enjoy reading this book.
- Being patient! Remember that this process of choosing is important and much harder for early readers.
Developing confident, enthusiastic and independent readers
As children become increasingly independent they will need you to support their reading in different ways:
- Continue to take an interest; you may need to do this subtly
- Trust your child to make their own reading choices, even if you feel that their choices are not 'worthy' or insufficiently demanding. Remember that children, like adults have their own reading preferences. They may prefer to read comics, magazines, fiction, non-fiction or choose your own adventure type stories.
- Boys and Girls may have different reading preferences but it is important not to stereotype their reading. These days it is easy to find books that have been produced with specific girl or boy appeal. Be sensitive to their preferences without pigeon-holing their reading.
- Look for books related to children's hobbies, current films and playground trends.
- Be sensitive to the demands of reading. A page of heavy text may be off putting for readers who have developed reading skills but do not yet have the stamina to tackle long books with dense print. Series like Zac Power have been thoughtfully designed to be easy on the eye and non-threatening. Further information about finding 'winning books' is available on the Power of reading website www.powerofreading.com.au
- Reading books in a series can be very important for children's reading development. Try not to be anxious if you child wants to read all 13 books in A Series of Unfortunate Events but appears not to be reading anything else. Reading a familiar format can increase confidence and provides essential reading practice. Children who are allowed to indulge in such pleasurable reading are more likely to become 'hooked on books' and to broaden their reading interests later.
- Take account of your child's interests and preferences when making suggestions but also encourage them to try new things. If your child is an avid series reader, you can help broaden their reading experience by:
- Continuing to read aloud to them throughout the primary years. Many children continue to enjoy this experience.
- If your child is resistant and associates this with younger readers, buy or borrow audiobooks. Play them during car journey
- Take part in the Telegraph Family Book Club
- Talk about your own reading interests. It's important that children see that you enjoy reading too.
- Encourage your child to find their own reading communities using the local library or the internet:
- Reluctance to read has many causes, many of which can be avoided by taking account of this advice. However, if your child is reluctant to read because they find reading difficult you may need resources that are specifically produced to help them. Barrington Stoke publishes books especially for children who find reading difficult. www.barringtonstoke.co.uk
Further Reading
Paul Jennings (2004) The Reading Bug…. And how you can help your child catch it Puffin
Nicholas Tucker (2002) The Rough Guide to Children's Books 0 - 5 Years Rough Guides
Nicholas Tucker (2002) The Rough Guide to Children's Books 5 - 11 Years Rough Guides
Danile Hahn et al (2004) The Ultimate Book Guide A & C Black
Jacqueline Wilson (2006) Great Books to Read Aloud Corgi, Random House
The National Literacy Trust offers advice for parents and families www.literacytrust.org.uk
www.powerofreading.com.au
www.writeaway.co.uk
www.lovereading4schools.co.uk
www.lovereading4kids.co.uk
www.readingzone.com
www.booktrusted.co.uk
http://www.sla.org.uk/boys-into-books-overview.php
This information was prepared by Nikki Gamble, Associate Consultant, London Institute of Education and Director, Write Away
