The Importance Of Reading For Your Child

Is your child a poor reader? If so, the problem could be just the tip of the iceberg. Fanie Maritz explains what you can do to improve your child’s chances of success.

• Educational psychologists estimate that between 60% and 80% of children suffer from impaired reading. This puts them at a distinct disadvantage at school – which can result in larger problems later in life. Is your child amongst them?
• For most South African children, English can be regarded as a second language. And for some living in rural areas it could even be considered a foreign language. These children have very little exposure to the language, and language is a skill. You have to practice it to master it.
• Dr Denise Barry, a well-known academic researcher says that children with language problems constantly have to focus on translating English into their home language, because that is the language they think in, so the rest passes them by.
• Poor reading and writing can also be caused by poor eyesight or hearing, genuinely limited intelligence, emotional, intellectual or psychological immaturity, inappropriate teaching methods or an unstable home environment.
• Few schools can afford remedial teachers or sophisticated programmes to address reading disabilities, much less spend a great deal of personal time with a child who has such difficulties. Parents have to make an increased effort at home, helping their children practice reading skills.

How Parents Can Help:

1. Regular reading aloud under supervision at home goes a long way to improving matters. If a parent checks the reading lesson by asking questions on comprehension and tests the child’s spelling of the words, there is always an improvement.
2. If it’s a toddler, put the child on your lap and “read” a picture book together. This creates a love for books and the written word.
3. Accompany children to the local library. Enrol them as members and let them attend the regular book readings.
4. Find out your child’s interests and buy books that correspond with them. Start your own library at home so books are always on hand.
5. Buy word games like “Scrabble” and crossword books for kids.
6. Buy a good dictionary and encourage them to consult it for definitions and spelling.

Is Your Child Dyslexic?
A dyslexic child will reverse words, write letters back-to-front, and get the letter sequence of words wrong. They also lose their place continuously, leave out sentences or re-read a line twice and spell phonetically and inconsistently. If this describes your child, you need expert help.Dyslexia is a frustrating and embarrassing communication difficulty which can make a child insecure and unconfident. Communication is a crucial part of everyday life and a reading disorder can impact seriously on your child’s development so it’s important to deal with it as early as possible.