Reading is such an essential skill for children. It assists them in expanding their vocabulary, broadening their general knowledge and gaining a better world understanding. Parents and carers are key figures in their child’s life and what better way to build your relationship with your children than developing a love for reading. We believe reading in the home occurs in 2 ways:

1. Reading to Learn - children reading 'good fit books' to improve the strategies and skills learnt in class.
2. Developing a lifelong love of literature - reading, being read to or reading together.

In terms of developing a lifelong love of literature, we recommend reading each afternoon or evening. Some ways to assist in building this love of reading with your child is to:

• Make books part of your family life. Have books around so that you and your children are ready to read whenever there’s a chance. Allow them to pick their own books, encouraging their own interests.
• Match their interests. Help them to find the right book. This means that it doesn’t matter if it’s fiction, poetry, comic books or non-fiction. All reading is good – Don’t discount non-fiction, comics, graphic novels, magazines and leaflets. Reading is reading, and it is all good.
• Ask questions. Keep your child interested in the story, ask questions such as, ‘What do you think will happen next?’ or ‘Where did we get to last night? Can you remember what had happened already?’
• Read again and again. Encourage your child to re-read favourite books and poems. Re-reading helps to build up fluency and confidence.
• Select books with rhyme and repetition. Books and poems, which include rhyme and repetition, are great for encouraging your child or children to join in and remember the words.  ​