5 – 7

Read for pleasure

Top tip

Read for pleasure

What to do with this activity?

Encourage your child to read for pleasure. Books can open up different worlds to your child and help their thinking develop.

  1. Encourage your childto read books about topics they enjoy - animals, music and football, mystery stories, comics, cars - whatever it is.
  2. Ask your child their opinion of stories and books – ask “what did you like best?”
  3. Listen to your child reading aloud in short regular sessions.
  4. Make sure the chosen books are at a level your child can understand.

Don't forget that your local public library is an amazing free reading and learning resource for you and your child.  

If your child prefers reading online, especially if you are travelling, we suggest you register with Oxford Owl (they only need your email address). The website is organised by Oxford University Press and has 250 free e-books for computers or tablets aimed at children from age 3 to 11.  

 

 

  • Why am I doing this?

    The written word is everywhere and by pointing out words around you everyday, your child will realise the usefulness of reading and how it brings information and knowledge of the wider world into your lives.

    Reading together shows your child that you think reading is important. It helps your child to link the words on the page to how they are spoken and to begin to recognise words.

  • How can I do more?

    Encourage your child to read by giving them books or information about what they are interested in, for example, if they are interested in cars, give them books about cars – it’s a great motivator. Use comics, magazines and newspapers to provide lots of new words and facts. Your child can use the pictures for information about the words they are reading.

    Read longer books to your child. This will help with memory.

    You could do ‘paired reading’ – your child chooses a book or comic to read.
    -  At first, both of you read aloud together. When the child is ready, they carry on reading alone.
    -  If they don’t know a word, you say it for them and both of you continue to read together until they are ready to read alone again.
    -  No pressure is made to get them to read by themselves. They only do it when they are ready. This is useful with older children when they find text books difficult.

    Your child might like to practise their reading skills by reading to younger children.
    Discuss with your child’s teacher if they are having difficulty reading.

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