When children are learning to read, most of their mental energy is on decoding the words on the page. While we often think that we can multi-task, the truth is that our brains can really only devote mental energy to one task at a time. For children learning to read, this means that while they are spending time focusing on identifying the words on the page, they have very little mental energy left for understanding what they are reading. The key to helping children move from beginning readers to fluent readers is practice. Reading is a participation sport – the more you do it, the better you become. It is as simple as that. So, how do we get children to read more? The answer is simple. We find books that children love to read. Take your child to the library where there are thousands of books just waiting to be explored. Seek the help of the children’s librarian to suggest books that appeal to children in the areas of your child’s interest. Once you have identified those books and the type of books that your child enjoys reading, find as many like that as you can and then have your child read the books to you. It can be a fun time and your child will be building skills that will last a lifetime.
