Even if they’re still infants, reading bedtime stories will lay the groundwork for later. You simply can’t start reading to your child too early. There are hundreds of studies proving the benefits of reading to your children when they are young, even as early as in the womb. The earlier you start, the easier it will be for your child later.
Kids have great imaginations and they love to use them every chance they get. Get your kids to make up their own story and tell it to you. As they’re telling their story, write it down. Then you can read back their own story to them and show them how to read words they already know. They’ll slowly start to connect what they say with what you write, making it easier to identify words.
Children don’t usually hear all the sounds within a word. For instance, they hear “dog,” but not the “duh”-“aw”- “guh” sounds that compile the word. Teach them how to slow down and hear each sound so they can learn to sound out words they don’t recognize. Play word games with them. Say a word and then break it apart: chair… ch-air.
Without knowing letter sounds, your child won’t be able to sound out words. Use toys like ABC books, flash cards, blocks and magnet letters to teach them various sounds. Keep the lessons short and fun so they stay focused and entertained, no more than 5–10 minutes.
After reading your child’s favorite bedtime story to them, ask them to tell the story back to you in their own words. Ask questions like who’s the main character, where did he or she go, and what did they do.