| At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy | | | | Children learn in different ways than adults do and |
| Parent's Guide" but then I realized that most | | | | I don't think anyone knows enough about the |
| parents aren't lazy, but they may have a slightly | | | | human mind to figure it all out. Make reading |
| different philosophy about children and learning. | | | | together pleasant, not stressful. |
| If you're a big reader yourself or if you're | | | | And don't worry about how old your child is when |
| homeschooling, you're probably concerned about | | | | they learn to read. If they're reading at 3 or at 8, |
| how to teach your child to read. Reading is one of | | | | studies show that it makes little difference in their |
| the most important skills a person can learn, and | | | | intelligence or ability by the time they reach middle |
| a great joy in life. | | | | school. |
| My laid-back methods of teaching a child to read: | | | | 4) Pick topics that interest your child |
| 1) Be a reader yourself | | | | My oldest son's interest in reading really |
| Children naturally want to copy adult behavior. If | | | | skyrocketed when we started the Series of |
| your kids see you often with your nose in a | | | | Unfortunate Events books by Lemony Snicket. |
| book, they will probably begin to wonder what is | | | | We would sit for hours and read aloud together |
| so interesting about this activity. | | | | when he was only 5 or 6. Visit Lemony Snicket's |
| 2) Read to your kids | | | | Series of Unfortunate Events for more |
| This is probably a huge no-brainer. Read to your | | | | information about these books. |
| kids early and often. And don't read in order to | | | | These books were technically above his age level, |
| "teach your child how to read". I believe that the | | | | but I advise you to forget all that. |
| best way to teach your child to read is to NOT | | | | John Holt, the legendary educator and author, has |
| teach your child to read! | | | | been quoted as saying: |
| Read to your child because you enjoy it and it's | | | | "It's nice to have children's books, but far too |
| fun. Some forward-thinking education experts | | | | many of them have too much in the way of |
| believe that the teaching of reading is mostly | | | | pictures. When children see books, as they do in |
| what prevents reading. After all, don't adults read | | | | the family where the adults read, with pages and |
| as a means to an end? Because they want to | | | | pages and pages of print, it becomes pretty clear |
| learn something or because they enjoy the act of | | | | that if you're going to find out what's in those |
| reading? | | | | books, you're going to have to read from that |
| 3) Don't worry so much | | | | print. I don't think there's any way to make |
| Don't worry about a right or wrong way of | | | | reading interesting to children in a family in which it |
| reading to your child. | | | | isn't interesting to adults." |
| If your preschool-age child isn't interested in books | | | | So let your child pick books from the library or |
| yet, or won't sit still for more than 30 seconds to | | | | bookstore and don't concern yourself about |
| finish a story, don't fret. | | | | whether the titles are "age appropriate". |
| If your 3 year old wants to point at pictures or | | | | Above all, have fun snuggling up with your child |
| turn to favorite pages and ask a million questions, | | | | and enjoy reading together! |
| don't fuss. | | | | |