Encourage parents to read with their children

Parents play an important role in developing their children’s relationship to reading. It is much easier to make changes in a child’s reading habits if their parents are on board. Unfortunately, connecting with parents can often be easier said than done. With many parents working during school hours, finding time to discuss reading with them can be challenging.

Reading to your child doesn’t have to stop when they’re able to read independently. Research indicates that fewer than half of 5 to 7-year-olds are read to regularly. This figure drops dramatically for 7 to 10-year-olds, to fewer than a quarter. Children benefit from being read to even when they’re able to read independently, and adults benefit too! Reading aloud and choosing books together builds important family and social connections.

• Have reading sessions with parents before/after school. Invite parents into the school library for reading sessions with their children. This can take place in the morning before school begins or after school has ended. Providing parents with books to read from the library is a great way for parents to read with their children and become positive reading role models.
• Organise a parent book club to encourage parents to read more. Create a book club for parents to engage with outside of school hours. This can help build good reading role models, as children will see their parents having a positive relationship with books and may exhibit similar behaviours. Teachers can actively take part or allow parents to take ownership of the book club.
• Encourage parents to read with their children in their home language. Many parents choose not to read with their children because they aren’t confident in their own reading skills. For parents that don’t speak English as their first language, encourage them to read in their native language. Even if children are able to read on their own, spending time with their parents, reading together, can improve a child’s relationship with books and reading.
• Connect parents with their local public library. Promote the local public library to parents, make sure they know the address and when storytime sessions are run. If more reluctant parents are able to watch other adults reading stories, this will hopefully give them encouragement to read to their children themselves. If possible, bring parents along when you take students to visit their public library.
• Create a section in your school library of books that are good for reading aloud – this will help parents to choose the best books.

Choosing a good book to read aloud

There are a thousands of books out there and choosing one to read can seem daunting.

• Don’t just choose one book! Borrow a selection from the library, and choose books by different authors for variety. If you find that reading a particular book is like chewing tinfoil, you’ll have a backup!
• Does the text suit reading aloud? Depending on the confidence of the reader, some books are more complex to read aloud – for example some picture books have a combination of text, separate dialogue in speech bubbles, captions and wordless pages that may require a break from reading to discuss.
• What is the length of the picture book or the length of the chapters? Be prepared to break chapters or the book if it gets too late and if the picture book is quite short, maybe have a second book on hand.
• Choose books with subjects or themes that you know will be of interest to the child(ren) and also to the reader! This is especillay helpful if you’re introducing new books or authors.
• Don’t choose books that you think you should be reading if it’s not the right book! Reading the classics in Latin may be aspirational but it’s rarely a fun way to round off a day with your child.

Some other tips

• If neither of you is connecting with the book, choose another! It’s okay not to enjoy a book!
• Re-reading the same book (many times) is okay! It’s a complement if a child asks for a book again – it means they really enjoyed you reading it the last time.
• If your child has had a bad day, offer to read them a book you know they love.
• Remember to talk about the illustrations.
• Don’t be afraid to re-read a passage, expecially if you mess up a rhyme or read dialogue in the wrong voice!.
• Have fun with silly voices or props and puppets to bring characters to life.
• If you’re having trouble with reading dialogue, try funny immitations of famous people or people you know.