Vol. 2, No. 2 • Spring 1998

Help Your Child Learn to Read!

Although many parents ask themselves, "How can I help my child learn to read?" many without professional training doubt they can actually do it. Yet many of the skills required for reading can be developed right at home without books, professional materials, or professional training. Just by having your child help with the household chores (and who doesn't have lots of those), you can help him or her develop basic skills essential for reading.

Following is a list of activities to help a child:

1. Improve visual skills:
a) learn to tidy a room
b) give your child a list of things to find at the market...if he or she can't read words, use a list of pictures
c) dusting

2. Improve motor skills:
a) carry packages
b) hang out laundry
c) set the table
d) beat a cake

3. Improve left and right discrimination:
a) set the table
b) organize boots, shoes, mittens, gloves, etc.

4. Improve visual motor skills:
a) fold napkins
b) decorate cakes, cookies, etc.

5. Improve auditory skills:
a) listen for the timer
b) answer the telephone
c) dial the time and weather
d) listen to the radio--tune in the radio to help find baseball scores, etc.

6. Improve and develop concepts:
a) sort laundry (light and dark, adults and children, etc.)
b) put away dishes, groceries
c) help your child discover how many ways there are to go home from church, the grocery store, etc.
d) be sure your child knows his address and telephone number and perhaps those of special friends
e) help your child learn days of the week by relating them to food if your family has certain traditions along these lines (roast beef on Sunday, baked beans on Saturday, spaghetti on Wednesday, etc.), or by relating days to certain TV programs or other activities

7. Does your child know the following are actually short cuts to learning?
a) clock, calendar, distance on a ruler, thermometer, speedometer, scales, phone book, cook book, dictionary
b) does he or she know what else can be found in a phone book other then a phone number?

Copyright � 2000 Jordan Institute for Families