Having excellent reading skills is essential to children’s entire education and can play an important role throughout their lives.  In fact, how well a 7-year-old is able to read can predict how much money they’ll make in their adult years.

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But many kids just aren’t interested so how do we encourage a passion for reading and help them improve their skills?  These tips will help get your kids excited about reading.

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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.

Start early.

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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.

Encourage them tell you a “story.”

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Children don’t usually hear all the sounds within a word. Teach them how to slow down and hear each sound so they can learn to sound out words they don’t recognize.

Teach them to sound it out.

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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.

Teach phonics.

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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.

Ask questions.

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Reading and comprehension is essential to your child’s overall education so get them started early. Swipe up to read more on how to help your child become a better reader!

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