Learning to Read

How can parents help their children with learning to read?

If you were to ask 100 different people how children learn to read, you will probably get 100 different answers. However, there are some basic ideas behind learning to read which every parent should know about. The main skills which children need to develop are:

Check out the links on the left to find out more about how you can help your child learn to read. We have put together pages on pre-reading skills, games to help develop pre-reading skills, games to develop phonic skills (breaking down words into sounds), games to help children with whole word recognition (important for high frequency words or sight words) and also some useful printable worksheets to help children with learning to read.

Learning to read takes time and lots of practice. Children who have been read to will develop an understanding and love of books which will help give them the drive to learn to read for themselves when they are ready.

It's a good idea to read to your child every day. Many people find bedtime a good time for a story as it's a chance to spend some quiet time together at the end of the day. However, there may be other times in the day when a cuddle and a story are just what is needed.

Learning to Read Recommendations