Ways To Help Your Child At Home

    mother and child

    Ways To Help Your Child At Home

    • Set aside a special "reading time." Read to and with your child daily.
    • Play games with your child.
    • Help your child get a library card from the public library. Go to the library as often as possible.
    • Have a quite place where your child can do homework.
    • Help your child with his/her homework.
    • Subscribe to a children's magazine.
    • Read the Mini Page out of the Washington Post .
    • Have books available for your child to read in the car or while they have spare time.
    • Look up words in the dictionary with your child.
    • Practice counting change with your child.
    • Practice telling time with your child.
    • Help your child take responsibility for his/her schoolwork, homework, and supplies.
    • Practice writing at home. (Grocery lists, To Do lists, letters to family and friends...)
    girl read

    Help Your Child Become A Reader

    • Read aloud to your child as often as possible. Remember that children of all ages love to hear books read aloud. Keep reading to your child even after he/she learns to read.
    • Talk about what you read. Language and thinking skills develop when children talk.
    • Have your child read aloud to you. Keep it fun and enjoyable.
    • Get a library card for your child. Make visiting the library a special weekly event.
    • Make sure your child owns some books. Encourage relatives to give books as gifts.
    • Let your child see you reading a variety of printed materials:  newspapers, magazines, books, forms, recipes, etc.  Parents are the most important role models.
    • Provide opportunities to write. Allow your child to make grocery lists, send thank you letters, write notes to friends and relatives, and even keep a journal.
    • Monitor television viewing.  Set time limits and make good decisions about which programs are suitable for viewing. Watch television together and discuss program content.
    • Become involved with your child's school. If you show an interest, your child will know the home-school connection is important and will appreciate your support.
    • Listen to your child.  Your attention will build your child's self-esteem while he/she develops oral language confidence.
    • Subscribing to any of the following children's magazines will encourage reading at home:
      • Sesame Street magazine (ages 2-5)
      • Your Big Backyard (ages 3-8)
      • Ranger Rick (ages 4-9)
      • Zoobooks (ages 4-12)
      • Sports Illustrated for Kids (ages 8-13)
      • National Geographic World (ages 8-13)
      • Penny Power (ages 8-14)
      • 3-2-1 Contact (ages 8-14)