How Can You Help Your Child To Read Aloud? – Being Parents

Helping your child read aloud is an exercise that will help them improve reading fluency. Indeed, it is a very good way to help him reach his maximum potential. It will also bring him countless benefits in school.

Know that children can listen to a higher register of language than they can read. Thus, reading aloud makes complex ideas more accessible.

Reading aloud nourishes children and creates a positive association with books and reading. In addition, they are more motivated, more curious and have better memory.

Support and motivation

Listening to good readers read aloud is very helpful for children who have difficulty  . This will allow them to develop their fluency and, consequently, improve their ability to read.

Some children sometimes have difficulty reading. They block when they have to read a text individually. In this case, you have to be patient and help the child. Your support and motivation will allow him to overcome this situation.

Motivation for reading is the key to children’s participation. Indeed, it considerably fuels their passion. 

Benefits of reading aloud

Reading aloud has countless benefits  for children:

• Helps strengthen the parent-child bond.
• Improves pronunciation.
• Helps to memorize and learn better.
• Brings better linguistic richness.
• Exercises imagination and creativity.
• Develops attention and concentration.
• Helps overcome fears and build self-confidence.

Tips to help your child read aloud

If you need some tips to help your child read aloud, take notes of what we’ll discuss next.

1. Echo reading

   This first tip is ideal for helping your child who is having difficulty with a text. For this you must first read. The child will follow carefully with his finger.

   When you’ve finished reading, it’s time to switch roles. He will be the one reading it, and you will need to limit yourself to listening and keeping him company to make him feel comfortable.

   This type of reading will help him to read more fluently  since he will have a reader model. He will see where you take the pauses and where you put the intonations. It will also help him read faster and better.

2. Reading in unison

   Reading in unison is when you read a text simultaneously with your child. It is a very fun experience. As a parent, you must adapt your reading pace to that of your child.

   In this stage, the child will always have great difficulty reading. This is why you will need  to encourage him  to make him feel comfortable. This second tip offers the same benefits as echo reading.

   This means that he will also have a player model as he increases his support level. He will also be able to improve his reading rhythm, his precision and his expression.

3.  Reading Companions

   In this third activity, the child has to read a text while the parent follows, listens and comments if necessary. This approach allows your child to read more fluently – especially thanks to the level of support and feedback. As he receives feedback on his reading, he can correct his mistakes. 

   However, this reading method promotes better precision. In addition, it is very motivating for the child.

   

4.  Creative reading

   This final tip can be very helpful in motivating children to read aloud. In this case, it’s about reading with your child in a creative way. You will need to adapt your voice or messages to the situations happening in the book.

   For example, you can try adopting  different tones of voice when speaking different characters,  or even imitate the accent of a foreign character. When the story has a sound effect, you can enjoy it to the fullest. Animal calls work very well and kids will get hooked on the reading.

   Finally, it is necessary to stress that helping your child to read aloud will have long-term benefits for him. Thus, he will be able to think better or be passionate about reading. You will also have the pleasure of completing a task with your child and spending time with him.