Reading · 5 min read
Essential reading for parents: how to read with your child
If you only do one thing at home, make it reading together. It is the single habit with the strongest evidence behind it.
Why reading aloud matters
Researchers estimate that children who are read one picture book a day hear around 1.4 million more words before they start school than children who are never read to [1]. Those words become the vocabulary they use to understand what they read later. Reading aloud remains valuable well after children can read on their own: you can read books above their reading level, which grows vocabulary and comprehension.
Make story time a conversation
An approach called dialogic reading turns your child into the storyteller. In studies, children whose parents asked open questions and expanded on their answers while reading picture books made significant gains in language [2].
- Pause and ask: "What do you think will happen next?" "Why did she do that?"
- Build on their answer: "Yes, he is cross. I think he's also a bit scared."
- Talk about new words: "Enormous. What else is enormous?"
- Connect to their life: "Remember when we went to the beach like that?"
Supporting a beginning reader
When your child reads to you, give them time to sound out words before helping. If they are stuck, point to the first sound or ask "What sound does that make?" rather than saying the word straight away. Praise effort: "You worked that word out by sounding it out!" Re-reading a familiar book is good practice, not cheating. It builds fluency and confidence.
Reluctant readers
- Let them choose, including comics, graphic novels, joke books and non-fiction about their passions.
- Take turns reading pages, or you read and they read the speech bubbles.
- Try audiobooks for car trips. They still build vocabulary and love of story.
- Visit the library together and make it a treat.
- Keep it short and positive. Stop while they still want more.
When to look a little closer
If your child is working hard but still finds it very difficult to link letters and sounds, guesses at words from pictures, or avoids reading altogether, talk with their teacher. Early support makes a big difference. Our guide on how to tell if your child is having trouble at school has more on what to look for.
References
- Logan, J. A. R., Justice, L. M., Yumuş, M., & Chaparro-Moreno, L. J. (2019). When children are not read to at home: The million word gap. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 40(5), 383–386. Source
- Whitehurst, G. J., Falco, F. L., Lonigan, C. J., et al. (1988). Accelerating language development through picture book reading. Developmental Psychology, 24(4), 552–559. Source
- Mol, S. E., & Bus, A. G. (2011). To read or not to read: A meta-analysis of print exposure from infancy to early adulthood. Psychological Bulletin, 137(2), 267–296. Source
This guide is general information for families, not medical or psychological advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to their teacher or your GP.