How Can I Get My Child To Read More?

Reading is important for building your child’s language skills and creativity. However, it can be hard getting your child to read as often as you’d like. Here are some ways to making reading more enjoyable:

Tip #1: Read together

From a young age, read aloud to your child. Ask lots of questions about pictures, characters and stories. Get children to use their imaginations and guess what will happen next in the story. Most importantly, keep reading aloud to your child even after they can read independently. Make reading sessions your special child-parent time.

Tip #2: Read everything

Go beyond books and make reading a part of your child's everyday life. Encourage them to read comics, magazines, cards, street signs, advertisements or even cereal boxes!

Take every opportunity to develop your child’s reading skills. Doing it in a fun way will develop your child’s curiosity and engagement with the world.

Tip #3: Let your child choose

Children are more likely to read what they enjoy. Find out what your child is excited about. If your child loves watching cooking shows, read a recipe together.

Or show them a brochure about the latest superhero movie. Most importantly, take your children to a library and let them choose books by themselves.

Tip #4: Record and reward

Record the books that your child reads. Set a goal for the number of books to read each week.

Reward your child’s reading achievements with stickers or extra play time. Simply praising your child or giving lots of encouragement can also be very powerful.

Tip #5: Be a role model

Parents are the most powerful influence on children's lives. Teach children to love reading by reading regularly yourself. Show them how exciting and fun reading can be. Fill your family home with lots of books and magazines.

Book Recommendations

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

E-Books: Empowering Children

E-book readers are excellent devices that let children take control of their own reading. Children have thousands of books to choose from. Your child can download and read any time, anywhere.

A Kindle is a great example of an ebook reader. Alternatively, you can download the Kindle app for free and read on an iPad or computer: www.amazon.com/gp/digital/fiona/kcp-landing-page

Download and print these tips in PDF

Visit our page on comprehension Skills

See materials for practicing reading comprehension

This book has just been released by a very good friend and very highly respected teacher who we worked with for many years and has a very strong understanding of Hong Kong's system. We highly recommended it for strong K2-K3 readers and fluent P1 readers or P2-3 readers in mainstream schools who need more practice. It is now available in paperback through Amazon with a digital version coming out shortly.

"I am soooooo touched by the thoughtfulness and recognition that you bestowed upon Anthony. I have to say your love and dedication for students is unfathomable, and I can see God's grace in how you steer your students through their challenges, pursuits and most importantly, difficult times. "

-Edna (Parent of 3 students)

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