What are the basic ways to learn a topic? Probably, having good listening and reading skills. Both these skills are essential to grasp any topic. When a teacher explains to your kids, comprehension relies on their listening skills. When the teacher writes on the blackboard, their reading skills are at work. Listening skills are adapted naturally by children from a very young age. There are no tips and tricks required. In the case of reading, it’s the opposite. Many people think English reading for kids is also a natural process, though it is not. Here, your kids need constant practice and supervision to take note of the mistakes they make.
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Most Common Reading Problems Faced by Kids
Every child is different, and so is their ability to improve reading skills. Some might be quick in adapting those skills, while others might face difficulties.
Here are the three most common reading problems your child may be facing:
#1. Ability to Understand
When a kid starts their journey of reading, the process can look complex for them. Recognising letters, joining them to form words, understanding the sentences and new phrases they encounter can be pretty overwhelming.
#2. Sounds of Words
Putting sounds to the letter of a language can be difficult for your kids when they start. It is quite common when they come across new words, as in English, every word has a unique pronunciation irrespective of there being the same connecting letters, which are often pronounced differently in forming different words.
#3. Slow Reading
Yes, being slow at reading is normal when a child starts; your kid’s reading pace should increase if they are regularly practising. But, if this continues even after three to four months of reading, they would require special attention.
English Reading Practices for Kids
Simple methods can solve all these problems. Although, we can’t guarantee that those methods can make your child able to learn reading quickly. You just have to be patient!
Now, let’s look at some effective reading practices for kids.
#1. Listening to English Cartoons and Rhymes
The first and foremost step to improve reading skills is listening. The method is simple, but it is one of the most effective ones. Children are very attentive and curious at a young age, and by listening, they can pick up many words and sounds. This ultimately helps them recognise new terms quickly while reading.
So, the next time whenever your child watches cartoons, make sure you have switched the language to English. This will help them correlate sounds with the letters of the alphabet better.
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#2. Picture Charts of Words
This is a well-known fact that the human brain recognises the meaning of words when they see pictures, and most importantly, kids love seeing illustrations. You can paste a vegetable chart, fruits chart or the atlas on their room’s wall.
#3. Play Scrabble
Scrabble is a fun spelling board game. The rules are very simple. Two to four players can play the game. In scrabble, the objective is to score as many points as your opponent. Points are awarded for putting as many words on the game board as possible. There are different point values for every letter, so the strategy is to combine high scoring letters to create words.
#4. Jumble Words Game
This simple game is a very effective method to make your child recognise words more clearly. By jumbling the words, they focus on words with more intensity. Although they have to think hard for some time, this greatly helps them remember words in the long run.
#5 Use Reading Materials
Here are some lists of fun reading materials for kids :
Kids’ Magazines
Some of the most famous kids’ English magazines are Champak, Magic Pot and Magic Pot Read & Colour, National Geographic Kids magazine, Intelly Jelly, The Child City, Tell Me Why, Highlights Champs magazine and RobinAge newspaper magazine.
Comics
Some of the most famous kids comics are Tinkle, Chacha Chaudhary, Amar Chitra Katha, Tenali Raman, Akbar Birbal, Panchatantra, Chandamama, Vikram Betal and Bankelal.
Recipe Books
If your kids have an interest in food or cooking, then recipe books are perfect for them. You can not only read it with them but also try new recipes to keep them entertained!
Encyclopedias
These are gems for young kids, and they can improve their reading skills and general knowledge at the same time.
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Dictionaries
It might be challenging to convince your children to read a dictionary cover to cover. But, you can make it easy for them by setting a challenge. For example, tell them to find a new word that starts with ‘y’ or ‘find a word with 12 letters’. They are likely to do a lot of reading with a plain old dictionary.
English Reading Practice Books for Kids
Goodnight Moon Book by Margaret Wise Brown
There is no storyline to Goodnight Moon; it’s just a description of animals like kittens, a mouse and an old woman who lives quietly. In addition, there are mittens, a toy house, and even a cow. Throughout the book, the author introduces everything initially and then wishes them a good night at the end.
Also Read: Brain Development Games for Kids: Challenge the Limits
Let’s Go Series Book
A great series of books for children starting English reading, designed to keep them entertained while doing their homework! Let’s Go Series teaches phonics, grammar, and the alphabet through fun song and dance, colourful worksheets, listening tests, communication games, and partner work to make learning an enjoyable experience for children.
Big Machines: Read it Yourself With Ladybug Book
Children who have just begun learning to read independently or with assistance will find this book a welcome and informative resource. The interactive activity provides an introduction to tractors, diggers, and bulldozers and boosts fluency and vocabulary. This title is part of Ladybird’s bestselling Read it Yourself series, which includes over 90 titles developed by educational consultants to improve children’s reading skills.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
This famous book is adored by children and adults alike and is aimed at native English speakers. Many schools around the world use it as part of their reading curriculum.
Reading Practice for Kids with the Real School Of Montessori
Reading is an important skill every child should have to stand out in school life or in life. This article aimed to provide all the basic information for your kids to improve their reading. Although, there are tonnes of ways to improve your child’s reading ability. To make your kids explore different ways, check out the Real School Of Montessori website. It is a new age school which provides fun and effective learning for children. Enrol for a masterclass today and get a taste of the state of the art learning environment of Real School Of Montessori.
Also Read: Maths Toys for 5-Year-Olds Kids: Fun and Interesting Toys for Kids
