Reading Ready Child

Teaching your child to read is not only important -- it's also simple!

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

We all know it's important for children to learn to read. But my son is almost five and I want him to have a firm grasp on reading as soon as possible. How do you make the leap from looking at books and memorizing stories to getting him to actually read?

Sincerely,

Loving Literacy

Dear Loving Literacy,

There are lots of ways to encourage a child to read. But I found parent/child reading clubs to be a great help! Parent/child reading clubs are a great idea for so many reasons and your child doesn't need to attend a pricey pre-school to participate. In fact there are no bad reasons to participate in such a club, but the good reasons abound:

4 Reasons To Participate in a Parent Child Book Club:

1. Parents model reading for their children. Most parents just don't read — not to their children, but to themselves. It's no wonder that kids don't read, when they don't see their number one role models reading, so here's a way to break the cycle.

2. Etiquette isn't part of DNA. Social graces are not genetic. They're learned. And when your child sees you interacting with other people, he or she learns manners. Things you take for granted, like not interrupting, saying excuse me when you burp, having a man hold the door for a woman, waiting until everyone is seated to begin eating — all these manners and more are things your child can watch you do at a book club, and then learn to do on his or her own.

3. Public speaking. Many kids are nervous about speaking publicly — oh, wait! That's not just kids. Adults can be anxious about public speaking, too. A book club that meets regularly gives children opportunities to speak publicly and help others who suffer anxiety to overcome it.

4. Reading as lifestyle. Just as many parents support sports for their children, reading can and should be supported. Bookstore trips and purchases can be taken as frequently as you would take your son to a ball game. Family reading time – not out loud, but quietly, symbiotically, and as a group activity, can and should be supported with the same frequency you'd sit around a television to watch a ball game.

Besides, teaching your child how to read might be easier than teaching them how to surf the web when they get older!

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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