Try These Helpful Strategies to Get Your Kids Reading

As a mom to three kids, I’ve lived through a lifetime of sounding out letters, I Can Read Books, and practicing pencil grips. As a writer, literacy combines my greatest joy and the way I keep food on the table – but I’ve also had to learn that my children are not me, and their feelings about reading and writing may look different.

Each of my children is unique, and their willingness to practice reading and writing has all differed. One of my kids has found reading challenging, requiring extra creativity to figure out how to engage them in the language arts and find different strategies to get them reading. I’ve chatted with experts about declining literacy rates, discovered engaging and educational apps and games, and learned patience along the way.

If your child struggles with reading, it’s important to know that they are not alone. The Canadian Children’s Literacy Foundation estimates that over 1 million Canadian children are reading below grade level.

“Early identification is essential,” says Dr. Valdine Björnson, the founder of the Reading and Learning Clinic of Manitoba. “Overidentification is not a problem, underidentification is. It is also far simpler to support an early years student and provide a proactive preventative approach than to provide intervention to a student in older grades.”

If your kid isn’t reading yet, or you feel like they’re falling behind, don’t panic. There are plenty of resources and support available. Below, you’ll find helpful guidance to get you started.

When do kids learn to read?

Learning to read is a process, but kids typically become early readers between the ages of five and seven. “Studies and data show that the reading level at Grade 3 can strongly relate to levels of Grade 12 completion,” says Björnson.

According to Theresa Bertuzzi, the co-owner and founder of Tiny Hoppers, a Canadian-based early childhood education and daycare franchise, children should be reading comfortably by the age of eight. Teaching a child to read is a team effort, especially when the child requires extra support.

Reading apps for kids

Enter any public school classroom, and you’re bound to find technology. Educators have adapted and incorporated technology into their teaching strategy, using it as a tool to support learning. While an iPad isn’t going to teach your child to read, using technology in an informed way can support your child’s learning and help to engage them. Literacy apps can help engage children and unlock access to hundreds, even thousands of books – a massive, accessible library that can fit into their hands. Below are some of the top-rated reading apps available for kids.

My kids love using the family iPad to quietly sit and learn their letters and reading comprehension, and when we consistently use our favourite apps, they absorb and learn the most.

• Sago Mini School
• Epic!
• Starfall Learn to Read
• Khan Academy Kids
• Teach Your Monster to Read
• Skybrary
• Learn to Read - Duolingo ABC
• Bob Books Reading Magic
• Reading Eggs

Reading games for kids

Both tactile and digital games can support a child’s reading development. Most people enjoy learning while having fun and feeling engaged in the material. There are many physical products available that help to support reading development. My kids have a shelf full of fun reading games that our entire family returns to over and over again. Our favourites include:

• Lovevery Reading Skill Set: this newly launched phonics program has become our go-to daily summer activity and has engaged our reluctant reader in a way I have never seen before.
• The Fidget Game: our entire family loves playing The Fidget Game, a multi-sensory game designed by reading specialists to get kids engaged using one of the popular pop-it fidget toys.
• My First Bananagrams: I love word games, so I loved it when the uber-popular Bananagrams came out with an early reader version. My First Bananagrams is perfect for kids learning to spell and gives them confidence through wordplay.
• Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog First Words: I love Learning Resources and have been buying their products for over a decade. One of our most beloved reading activities encourages fine motor skills and early literacy development.

How storytelling benefits early literacy

The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends using storytelling activities as a way to cultivate early language and reading skills. Studies show that structured storytelling can enhance and improve the learning environment and support early literacy development.

“Storytelling is a fantastic way to support [literacy]. If students have heard stories and been exposed to new ideas and vocabulary through captivating storytelling, this will impact their understanding of writing and organizing stories,” says Björnson.

Through oral storytelling and reading aloud, children are exposed to different worlds, cultures, and lived experiences. These activities can feed their imaginations and help them to empathize with others.

How to teach kids to read

Parents of children of all ages should find fun and engaging books to read together.

“Find funny stories and topics of interest, and connect while reading with your child,” says Björnson. “Parents should also look for texts that encourage their cultural, environmental, and other relevant topics. Engage while reading by asking questions and relating the storyline to something relevant to the child.”

For preschool children, it’s important to cultivate a sense of curiosity and awareness of their surroundings. Björnson recommends teaching them to identify common street signs, what the different colours of a street light mean, and look for logos like the McDonald’s arches. This will teach them that the world around them is filled with symbols that mean something – understanding the symbols will help to unlock the meaning.

Once a child enters kindergarten and goes into the first grade, the work of letter recognition and phonics begins. Björnson recommends a few fun activities, including:

• Play with sounds: Listen to sounds in the environment and have your child identify what those sounds mean. Pick a letter and ask your child to find an item that starts with that letter in the room.
• Sing nursery rhymes: Teach your child different nursery rhymes and sing them often together.
• Play rhyming games: Encourage your child to identify rhyming words by having your child pick a word that rhymes with a simple word you’ve chosen.

If your child is struggling with reading and writing, it’s important to incorporate other types of learning and activities that they enjoy.

“For any student who might find school challenging, develop skills and find activities that support their competency and confidence,” says Björnson. “In schools, learning tends to focus on literacy skills; therefore, we must balance their experiences by providing children with something that will allow them joy and success.”