How to Teach Your Child to Read—3 Things to Beware of Before You Do

Want to learn how to teach your child to read at home? For most kids, it shouldn't be too difficult. What it takes is patience, consistency, and an easy-to-use program, all of which you have access to, right? No need to feel daunted by the task—parents are pretty good at figuring out what they need to do when they need to, and you're no different. 

You got this!

You might be surprised how easy it is. But to make it even easier, please keep the following 3 things in mind:
How to Teach Your Child to Read?
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Wondering How to Teach Your Child to Read? These 3 Things Will Help You Get It Right.

1) Choose Phonics
Science repeatedly tells us phonics is the best way to teach a child to read. Makes sense, doesn't it? After all, English is a phonetic languages. Once a child learns the phonetic code, he or she can read words—even unfamiliar ones—by using the rules of phonics and sounding them out. Even if you never learned phonics as a child, you are most likely a phonetic reader. A lot of people simply 'figure out' the code over time, whether they know it or not.

But some people don't. These are the kids who struggle to learn how to read. It may be apparent from the very beginning that there is a problem, or it may take some time to become clear. You see, when I child doesn't know the code, he or she will try and 'guess' the words. Some kids are really good at this! But when the pictures go away and the words become more complex, guessing stops working. Imagine how frustrating—and confusing—this would be for a child. 
2) Keep Your Lessons Short
To keep your child motivated, you don't want to hear groaning every time you say "time for your lesson"! Small children have short attention spans, and you probably have a LOT of other things to do. The good news is, your success rate will go way up in proportion to how short you keep your lessons. We recommend no more than 5 minutes per day. The beauty of phonics is that it can be easily compartmentalized into short micro lessons. When you commit to keeping the time short, you'll leave your small pupil wanting more. Using a phonics-based approach works fast—within a few weeks, most children 'get it,' and find they can pick out words on menus, in books, and on signs. Once this happens, they become quite dedicated to their lessons, as long as you keep them short. 

​Teach Your Child to Read™ is a phonics-based program for children ages 3-6. Try it 7 DAYS for free, and you'll see how quickly your child picks up 'the code.'
3) Let Your Child Set the Pace
When you are figuring out how to teach your child to read, you will probably do a lot of research on available programs. If a program feels too overwhelming or fast-paced to you, it will probably feel that way to your child. Children only get to be young once, a precious few years that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Please don't plant your child in front of a screen for long periods of time. No need to set goals for your child, either, since learning should be a reward in itself. And please, please don't show off your child's reading skills! It's amazing how many children can quickly learn to read at a young age, but when they have to perform for others, they may never lose the need for external praise to keep them motivated and feeling good enough. (And we all know how well that works. NOT.)
The bottom line on the 3 things to be aware of when figuring out how to teach your child to read? Use a phonics-based approach, keep the lessons short, and let your child set the pace. Click the button below to learn more about how Teach Your Child to Read™ can help you teach your child to read.