Once your child starts going to school, the first and basic thing they learn there is to read. However, some children may experience some difficulties with this part straight from the beginning. There are many reasons which could lead to a situation like this, but it can also have various consequences since reading skills usually set the ground for any future academic success your child can have.
The main thing to do here is react in a timely manner and provide your little one with the support they need to advance academically. Fortunately, there are different productive methods and techniques you can use to help your child with their problem and increase their reading skills significantly. Here are some of them.
Determine the cause of the problem
Before setting down to solving the problem of your child’s poor reading skills, make sure you fully understand what caused it in the first place. After all, your child is definitely not the only one who struggles with reading. In fact, there are probably several kids in their class who find reading challenging as well. The issue can be physical in nature, which is why you should take your child for a checkup to see if their hearing or vision is in any way impaired and if they require therapy.
An optician will be able to determine if your child has poor vision, but your physician can do more than just rule out the hearing or vision problems. They can also refer your child to a specialist who can diagnose a child with ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia or any other similar disorder. If this is the case with your kid, it’s better to know sooner than later, so that you can take action and get your child back on track academically.
In some cases, a child may fall behind in class and in their reading skills because, due to low self-esteem, they’re too shy to speak up in front of their classmates, so be sure you’ve really done your research and found the problem before you can help your kid solve it.
Know your limits
Most parents will do nearly anything to help their children, but in doing so, it’s crucial to know when something is too much for you to handle. Just like your child is aware that they need help with their reading difficulties, you should also recognize when you can’t do everything on your own. If a specialist has tested your child and has come to the conclusion that there aren’t any disorders you should worry about, you should try working with your child at home.
However, if all your efforts aren’t really showing any results and your child’s reading skills aren’t improving, it may be time to involve a professional. Nowadays you can find some amazing language schools which offer courses in phonics for kids with experienced and competent teachers who will pay special attention to the areas in which your child needs help the most and who will monitor your kid’s progress at all times.
These courses are made to help children read fluently and spell accurately. Look for those teachers who take pride in the textbooks they use, especially if they are the ones who developed them. Also, the classes should incorporate a whole range of diverse activities to stimulate the children and meet the learning outcomes they set for their students.
Instill the love of reading in your children
If a child falls in love with books at the earliest of age, they’ll be less likely to develop any resistance towards reading in general. This is why it’s essential that, in order to raise a book lover, you start reading to them even before you’re sure they can understand what they’re hearing.
Once they’re old enough to truly listen to stories and follow as you read them, they might ask you to teach them letters and words, which you can and should do for your child. And when they start reading on their own, stay involved by taking notice of what kind of books they prefer and by making this another one of your father-kid bonding activities.
Find the coziest space in your home, make a few cups of tea, cocoa or hot chocolate and spend some quality time reading. You can each read your own book, or you can read the same book. You can even have little plays to present the scenes from the books you read. When children perceive reading as something pleasant and joyful, they’ll read more often, which will give them the opportunity to practice and further develop their reading proficiency.
The most important thing you can do is let your child know that they can always count on you and that they should come to you first whenever they encounter a problem. And just as it is with most problems, with some patience and the right approach, this one can also be solved.