How can I help my child with reading?
Why reading matters
- Develops a wide vocabulary and background knowledge.
- Improves comprehension and critical thinking across subjects.
- Builds empathy, imagination, attention and enjoyment.
Helpful routines
- Read daily - short, predictable sessions work best.
- Offer choice: fiction, non‑fiction, poetry, magazines, graphic novels.
- Keep books visible and accessible; talk about what you are both reading.
Practical ways to support reading
- Share reading together: take turns or read aloud to your child.
- Talk about the text for a few minutes as conversation deepens understanding.
- Use pictures and clues to predict and notice details.
- Encourage re‑reading to build fluency and confidence.
- Make connections to real experiences (trips, topics, films).
- Discuss new vocabulary and meanings.
- Include audiobooks as they model fluency and rich language.
- Read a range of texts: stories, information, websites, comics.
- Let children see you reading; keep the atmosphere relaxed.
Beginning readers
- Encourage blending of sounds to read words using taught phonics.
- Praise attempts and revisit familiar books for fluency.
- Support recognition of common ‘tricky’ words.
Older or confident readers
- Encourage independent reading time and new genres.
- Read the same book and discuss themes, character and author choices.
- Ask questions about motives, evidence and viewpoints.
How school supports reading
- Daily opportunities to read and be read to.
- Explicit teaching of decoding, fluency and comprehension.
- Access to diverse texts and library resources.
- Vocabulary development through high‑quality texts and book talk.
Talking about books - prompts
- What stood out to you? What surprised you?
- How would you describe the main character?
- Why do you think they made that choice?
- What might happen next? Would you change anything?
- What do you think the writer wanted you to feel or think?
Building enjoyment, stamina and fluency
- Visit the library; create a cosy reading space; follow interests.
- Read little and often; revisit familiar texts; model expressive reading.
Useful links
Article - Eight tips to support your child's reading at home
Booktrust - free online stories
International Children's Digital Library - free online books in different languages