“How-to” Guide for Parents
One of a child’s proudest achievements is learning how to read. Here are some ways you can use I Can Read! to get your kids excited about reading:
Help your kids find books that spark their interests. Does your child like humor or adventure, poetry or sports? I Can Read! has more than 200 titles to engage and excite every reader. Use our Search to browse for topics that appeal to your children.
If It Isn’t Broken. When your kids have found books they love, help them find more titles with the same characters or by the same author. And encourage them to occasionally try new topics. They’ll never know how much they enjoy a good mystery or adventure until they read one!
Help your kids find books that match their reading levels. A book that’s too hard can be frustrating. A book that’s too easy can be boring. But a book that’s “just right” helps kids have fun reading and learning at their own pace. I Can Read! has titles across five levels so you can choose the reading level that’s best for your child.
Make reading a shared activity. When you share books with your children, you show them that you care about reading and you care about them.
- Start by reading aloud to children who are too young to read for themselves. Point to the words. Let them turn the pages. Once they have heard a story several times, encourage them to recite a few words along with you.
- When your kids first start reading, ask them to read aloud to you. They can read aloud to themselves, a parent, a sibling, or even to the family dog. Share their pride in their growing skill. Help them decipher words they do not understand.
- Once your kids start reading on their own, ask them to tell you about their favorite books. What are the stories about? What are their favorite parts? Which characters do they admire?
- Have your children reread stories. Reading the same stories over assist in gaining fluency.
- At every reading level, share the fun of choosing new books. Browse online together. Take trips to a bookstore or library.
- After reading a story, ask your child to draw their own version of the cover.
- Most I Can Read! titles have lots of dialogue and are great for talking parts! Let your child choose who he or she wants to be. Each of you read aloud your character’s lines. For example, “you play Frog and I’ll play Toad.”
Want to learn more? Check out the Tips and Tricks for Parents or one of the many articles, such as “Just Right Books.”
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