Library Leaflet - Reading with your Child

Useful Organisations and Websites www.hants.gov.uk/library Information from local libraries including details of recommended reads. www.literacytrust.org.uk The National Literacy Trust is a charity which aims to change lives through literacy. www.worldbookday.com The official World Book Day website , with a book-finder tool and details of fun reading competitions. www.sla.org.uk A national body promoting the use of school libraries, news on all sorts of book related issues and recommended reads for all ages.

Understanding (Comprehension) A child could be a strong reader but may not necessarily understand what the text means.

The easiest way to help your child develop their comprehension skills is to ask them questions about the book they are reading, such as… 

Do you like this book? Why?

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Who is your favourite character?

Tell me about them.

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What has happened in the story so far?

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What do you think will happen next?

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

— Dr Seuss, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!”

READING WITH YOUR CHILD St Michael’s CE Juniors School Library

Why is reading so vital?

Reading with your child is the one of the most important steps you can take to support their educational development.

Research has repeatedly shown that children who read regularly from a young age, achieve better results at school and become more confident and successful. 

How can I get my child to feel excited about reading?

If you demonstrate an enthusiasm for books in everyday life, your child will follow suit. There are lots of ways to do this... 

Ensure there is plenty of reading material around the house. This can include comics and magazines!

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Make sure there is a warm comfortable space to read in the house, such as a beanbag or sofa.

Reading develops your child’s speaking and listening skills.

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Reading develops your child’s vocabulary and imagination.

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Read a bedtime story to your child whenever possible.

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Reading develops your child’s writing

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Join your local library, not only will your child have access to a wide range of books but many libraries now stock DVDs and computer games too!

What if I don’t have time to read!

Reading doesn’t have to be too formal! You could ask your child to read aloud whilst you do chores around the house. Alternatively, take along a book or magazine next time your child has to wait at the doctor’s surgery or dentist.

Where can I find good quality books at a low cost?

Your local public library will have a wide range of books to borrow and membership is free, many local charity shops also stock good quality second-hand books and all children will have a reading book from the school library to share with their parents.

How to choose the right book

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Help your child make their own personalized book mark. This helps them to remember that they don’t have to finish the whole book at once!

Supply your child with books linked to their interests and hobbies.

5 Finger test

Start reading, when you come to a word that your child can’t read, ask them to turn down one finger.

If your child still has some fingers up at the end of the page they should be able to read the book.

If your child finds a word difficult... 

Ask them to sound the word out or break it down to help.

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Ask them to read the rest of the sentence. Can they work out the word?

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Can your child see any familiar words within the word? Could these help them understand the word and its meaning?

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