Don't stress! The more pressure you put on yourself and your child the more difficult the process will be.
Read aloud to your child; they are never too old for this! Reading aloud to your child models good reading skills. Modeling is very important for all learning.
Be sure that your child sees you reading. You might think about having a family reading time where everyone is together reading their own book.
Make home a literature rich environment. This is just educator speak for make sure you have lots of books and other reading materials for your child.
Help your child pick "just right books." To do this, have your child read aloud to you. If they struggle to read more than 5 of the words on the page the book is too difficult.
Write stories with your child or have your child write captions for family pictures and then enjoy time reading them together.
Go to the library! A fun free place for great books and programs. (Plus, libraries are quiet, and as parents sometimes that is just what we need).
Consider subscribing to a magazine for your child. (Highlights, Ranger Rick, or check out www.cricketmag.com
Play games like Scrabble Jr., Apples to Apples Jr., Boggle Jr., or Zingo. Anything that makes reading fun!
