WHY PARENTS MATTER PART 2: THE HOME READING ENVIRONMENT
Building a Strong Home Reading Environment
Many parents want to support their child’s reading but feel short on time, or, are unsure where to start. The good news is that even small “reading moments” at home make a big difference.
Below are easy-to-do ideas that fit real family life. This is true, whether you have two minutes before bed, ten minutes on a car ride, or a few spare moments during breakfast. These simple strategies will help build a strong home reading environment that can aid children to build their vocabulary, strengthen their reading skills and learn to enjoy books, even on the busiest of days.
1. Increase book exposure by making books within easy reach.
Keep a few books where your child spends time
Quick ideas:
Keep a small collection of short books (board books (books made to stand up to use by young readers), or rhyming stories, near the breakfast table or by the bed.
Keep 3 or 4 picture books in the car for drives or waiting times, e.g. doctor’s office.
Swap library books every two weeks to keep a variety of books without buying new ones.
Use e-books or story applications and audio books. It aids in building vocabulary. and this is especially true when you ask questions about the book.
2. Make reading fun so it’s not “boring.”
Make reading feel “light,” fun, and something to look forward to.
Quick ideas:
Choose silly rhyming, comics, or joke books. Even 5 minutes count.
·Read only one page and end on a cliffhanger. Say “We’ll finish tomorrow!” And ask, “What do you think might happen next?” It builds curiosity, anticipation and thinking about what could likely happen.
Read one page and then have the child read the next page. This makes it a shared activity. It is more engaging when both are involved in reading.
Use character voices or read with sound effects for 2 to 3 minutes. It increases the enjoyment of listening and reading. Just read in advance and think about how to get into character for the reading. Children can do the same thing reading to you.
·Too tired to read? Just describe the pictures and ask “What do you think is happening?” Or, “What will happen next?”
3. Build Vocabulary and General Knowledge in Easy Ways.
Build vocabulary during short readings or conversations about the reading.
Quick ideas:
Pick one interesting word per book (e.g., enormous). Use it once later in the day. For example, “That sandwich is enormous!”
Ask questions such as “Why do you think that happened?” or “What would you do?” One minute of conversation deepens thinking and understanding.
Read books about things the child likes. It adds interest while building knowledge.
Read labels, signs, menus, or recipes aloud. Printed words are everywhere. Point to words they know and ask “What is this word? “Do you know this word?” It adds to confidence in reading.
4. Be a Reading Role Model and Show That Reading Matters.
Children will mimic what they see their parents do. This is also true when they see reading as something adults enjoy.
Quick ideas:
For 5 to 10 minutes, have everyone read their favorite reading material.
From something you are reading say “Listen to this funny part!” or “This recipe says we need…”
Let children see your books, magazines, or e-readers lying around.
Use phrases like: “Look, I’m halfway through my book!” Or “I can’t wait to find out how this ends.” Both model persistence.
5. Spark motivation and a love for reading.
Provide supports that lead to children wanting to read, or read again.
Quick ideas:
Have 3 or 4 books readily available and allow the child to pick one they want to read or have read to.
Make available a cozy blanket, snack, or special light that signals “reading time.”
Connect books to life. For example, reading about some impending event such as a rain or snow storm.
Let your child read to a stuffed animal or pet.
Create a reading reward chart where a sticker or mark is made for every story. Or, for reluctant readers, a page or chapter. The reward could be a book they would like to read or have read to.
6. Reduce time barriers and make reading fit your day.
Make reading possible even on busy or “tired “days.
Quick ideas:
On days when everyone is too tired, read at breakfast or bath time instead. Remember every minute counts
One adult can read while another does chores. Parent-child interaction goes a long way.
On low-energy days, just talk about pictures—any pictures. Language skills are being strengthened through conversations.
Let audiobooks or smart speakers read aloud for you. Just remember to engage with your child on what they heard.
Have older siblings take on some of the same roles as parents.
7. For struggling or reluctant readers remove the pressures of reading.
Focus reading on doable activities.
Quick ideas:
Rereading familiar books builds reading fluency.
Reading a sentence and then having the child repeat the sentence builds a feeling of success.
Reading together allows parents to read the tricky words and the child to read the easy ones.
Using the visuals found in reading graphic novels or comics helps with comprehension.
Using supportive phrases such as “You read that word so smoothly!” instead of a focusing on corrections, takes some of the pressure off from learning to read.
Keep in mind that building a strong home reading environment doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. It’s about putting into place small, consistent routines that make reading feel familiar, comfortable, and enjoyable. Whether you read one page before bedtime, listen to a story in the car, or talk about a picture book over breakfast, each moment adds up.
Start with what feels doable this week and build from there. Over time, you’ll not only see your child’s reading skills grow, but you’ll also create shared memories that will last a lifetime.
Read Part 3: Research on sleep and the impact on a child’s ability to maintain focus.