Reading is a process involving linguistic abilities. It happens over time, so it’s really hard to suggest when children learn to read. Reading, according to some, is being able to speak out words and recognizing the ones that are hard to pronounce. Others define reading as the ability to read and comprehend phrases and texts. But when do children learn to read? There is no one right answer to this question.
You can assist a kid in walking, but they won’t be able to do it on their own until their muscles are strong enough. Reading is also like that.
Every child’s experience with learning to read is unique. Some children begin learning to read in daycare or preschool. Others begin to learn the skills in kindergarten or first grade.
Advantages of Teaching Reading Skills
The advantages of reading aloud and training pre-reading skills can be best appreciated if you start early. Reading to your infant can help them create a good link with reading even in infancy. Children raised to pick up a reading habit are more likely to appreciate reading for its intrinsic worth and are motivated to learn new words through reading. Furthermore, reading aloud to your child might help promote brain development throughout these crucial early years of childhood.
These advantages extend far beyond academic accomplishment. Students who master pre-reading abilities before kindergarten tend to be more curious and have better listening abilities.
Also Read: How Storytelling can Boost Your Kid’s Learning Abilities? 13 Benefits of Storytelling for Kids
How Children Learn to Read?
Developing a reading habit is similar to building a house brick by brick. To learn reading successfully, children must first master the sounds of letters and the meanings of words (vocabulary), word components (grammatical markers), and word groupings (overall meaning or semantics). Children require good reading instructions and adult supervision to lay these reading foundations.
Talking with instructors, listening to them talk about what they did throughout the day, and examining homework assignments are the greatest ways for parents to understand the types of reading lessons imparted at their child’s school. It also helps determine their ability to comprehend reading.
What Helps Children Learning Reading?
Children can enhance their reading abilities by practising at home. Here are some suggestions for parents, caregivers, and teachers to assist the ward/ student in developing reading skills:
#. Make it a habit to read. Children learn by what they see. Every night before bedtime, try reading a book together. Eventually, they will develop a taste for reading at a particular hour of the day.
#. Play some reading games on the go. Have the child read the traffic signs aloud or the instructions on a can of juice. Play rhyming games with them, make them read, try reading the advertisement hoardings at the street corner.
#. Hold discussions. Talk about what you’re seeing or experiencing and ask questions so that your children may do the same. This helps youngsters develop the linguistic skills they need to be good readers.
Activities for 3 to 5 Year Old
#1. Your Child is an Author
Three-year-olds may be talkative, but sometimes it can be difficult to get a word out of them by the time they turn four or five. Make the most of your child’s enthusiasm in talking by co-writing stories with them. Begin with something basic, such as discussing a fantastic day at the park or visiting friends. Staple some pieces of paper together, and on each sheet, write one or two of your child’s phrases. Then read it out to them and make them draw pictures to go with it.
#2. Engage in Factual Literature
Make an effort to pique your child’s interest in factual literature. Find books on your child’s favourite themes at the library or bookshop. Dinosaurs, cars, cats, and other topics are dealt with in children’s books, with several illustrations specifically created to engage children in reading.
#3. Playing with Letters
Words are enjoyable for children to transcribe onto paper. Write your child’s name on a piece of paper and have them copy it using magnets, stickers, and letter stamps. Encourage your children to write letters/ messages in their own words. Your kid will write letters backwards, spell arbitrarily, and unusually hold his marker — it’s “all fine” when a child tries to communicate in any way through writing at this age because writing helps children learn reading.
#4. What Words to Begin with
One of the first steps toward reading is the letter-sound connection. Parents should play a guessing game with the child’s favourite words. What letter does “c-c-candy” begin with, and what about “M-m-mommy”? When your child correctly guesses one, ask them to come up with as many words with that letter as they can think of.
#5. Take your Letters Outside
Children are tactile beings who like nothing more than poking objects with a stick. Many preschools encourage children to play with Doh letters or to sketch them in sand or clay. Use the world of nature to play with letters the next time you’re out at the park, at the beach, or in the snow. Write letters in the snow, mud, or sand in turn.
School-based Reading Instruction
Most of the children begin learning to read by six or seven. Some begin learning as early as the age of four or five. Even if a kid has a head start in their initial years, they may not be able to maintain that advantage once school begins.
The other pupils will most likely catch up in second or third grade. Pushing your kid to read before they are ready might undermine their enthusiasm for learning. Children who like reading are more likely to develop a tenacity to pursue knowledge in any form, which also includes higher education.
How do Children Learn Reading in School?
When your kid enters primary school, they will begin formal reading. How do children learn reading in school? Well, there are several approaches to teaching kids to read:
#. One method stresses word recognition and trains kids to grasp the meaning of an entire word by how it is used.
#. Another technique for kids to learn reading is by discovering the sound of the letters, which is also called Phonics. Phonics is a method of aiding in “decoding” the pronunciation or sound of words.
#. Another strategy is to concentrate on the links between the spoken and written text.
To teach children to read, most teachers employ a variety of strategies.
Be Aware of Potential Issues
Do you suspect that your child has a learning disability? If you identify any difficulty your child might be facing in learning to read, take the necessary aid of an expert; early intervention can help prevent future issues. Speech difficulties are far more obvious in the preschool years than learning problems that may interfere with a child’s efforts to read. The best way to detect these difficulties is to monitor the reading sessions cautiously. If you notice the child cannot read out a part, do not force them; instead, try to ascertain the cause behind their reluctance.
Also Read: How Storytelling Helps Develop the Brain for Kid: The Truth about Storytelling
Conclusion
Reading is one of the best habits to develop at an early age. If you feel the need of helping your child pick up reading more effectively, switch to the Real School Of Montessori, an online learning platform of its kind with innovative methods and expert mentors. We help your children become advanced learners by making them fall in love with learning. Visit the website of the Real School Of Montessori and sign up for the masterclasses today for a better tomorrow.
