How Do Kids Learn to Read

As a kid, my folks expected me to read books and it was suggested as a pleasurable thing. We had bedtime stories that also encouraged us further to learn about language and the sounds that go with it.

The parent reading make the sounds indicated in the story and it was done as a shared thing so we had fun joining in. The stories we read took us into other possible scenarios that suggested adventure or fantasy. When I read to my own son years later, I remembered the fun and did it with him too. He enjoyed the process as a game we were playing.

Now in schools depending on where you live, many use lessons to follow rather than a playful approach which makes it seem more like something you have to do. Not only that, the whole process is weighed and measured to indicate a grade or score of improvement or lack thereof. This takes all the fun out of it in my estimation and creates resistance in kids.

Helping your kids along before they get to grade one is a good idea. But immersing them in it too early might cause resistance too if the child is not ready and depending on the approach. And here is where the whole thing gets turned on its head. I believe children have to go at their own pace with any kind of learning.

We help by exposing them to the idea of books by providing books for them and reading to them. They will enjoy that even if it is not portrayed as a learning experience. This is because you are sharing time with them and the experience of the story. But how far it goes depends on how they experience things and their willingness to explore.

That is a playful concept. I really believe we are on this earth to enjoy our experience. It does not make sense to start out by making children think everything is going to be measured. Let's be kids as long as we can and still find room for play even when we read.