Reading
For younger children, there is no activity more important that reading aloud together. Fill your story times with a variety of books: not only fiction, but books about science, history, the arts, other cultures, and anything else you can find in your library. Even after children learn to read by themselves, it is still important to read aloud together. By reading things that are on their interest level but beyond their reading level, you can stretch young readers' understanding and motivate them to improve their skills.
Follow the words with your finger as you read aloud, so that the look of a word is accompanied by its sound and its meaning in context. Always be patient. If your child loses interest, don't insist on forging ahead, no matter how badly you want to find out how a story turns out! Young children are easily distracted, but an interesting book is bound to recapture their attention after a little time goes by.
Reading time is a wonderful time for a satisfying cuddle. Put your little one on your lap, your older child close enough beside you to turn the pages easily. The love communicated by this close physical contact will be identified with the act of reading, and all the reading your child does in the future will seem, somehow, more satisfying.
Don't neglect other language skills. Remember that reading, writing, speaking, and listening are like the legs of a four-legged stool -- each helps to support the others. Encourage your children to talk about the materials they have read, especially those you have read together. Listen and respond to their ideas, and encourage them to write their thoughts, perhaps in a letter to a friend or relative.
Create a home that is friendly to reading. Make sure that every family member has a library card, and visit the library frequently. Build a family library, perhaps with a special shelf for young readers. Have a special family reading time, when family members read quietly on their own -- this might be the only time a busy parent gets to read the newspaper! Don't be concerned if your child picks "easy" books, or reads the same book over and over. Because you value reading, your children will too.
Many experts recommend that children watch no more than ten hours of television each week. Limiting television viewing frees up time for reading and writing activities. Turning on the "closed caption" feature, though, can be very helpful for children having difficulty learning to read or studying English as a second language.
Be sure to monitor your child's progress by getting reports from the teacher -- if your child is having a real problem with reading, extra help and special programs will be available. Always remember, though, that your child wants to be like you. When our children see us reading for pleasure, or using our other language skills, they will try harder to master those skills.