How I taught my kids to read and cultivated life-long readers Part 1

Teaching your child to read doesn't have to be left to school teachers and doesn't need to be scary or difficult either. I have successfully taught my 5 boys to read without too many tears from either myself or my boys.

A love of reading starts LONG before a child is showing readiness to read. You do this by cultivating a language rich house by reading aloud regularly, listening to quality audio books, having lots of conversations around the table, during play and on walks and adventures.

Reading aloud to your children exposes them to the written word which is generally, quite different to everyday spoken language - children may not hear this language within their everyday world.

Some top tips to help bring reading aloud into your home:

Read books to your children that you enjoy as the parent - it could be books from your own childhood or books that teach rhyme or are just fun to read. They could be books with beautiful illustrations or books that make you laugh out loud - the real belly laugh! Whatever the book, they should be books that you will easily say YES to reading. Hopefully an enthusiastic yes when asked to read them daily. Don't be afraid to read chapter books out loud to your children, even your little ones! We want to enrich their vobcabulary and language skills and you will be amazed just how much goes in. My littlest ones will often colour, play duplo or playdough quietly while we read aloud - it is ok if they are 'doing' something while listening, the language will still be going in. 

Have a wide selection of books readily and freely available. Display books either in your childs room, create a household reading nook or a wee corner in the lounge. Have books in the kitchen, bedroom, a shelf or basket in the living area. We actually have books in every single room in the house - our books shelves are chocka and we have a household of avid readers. Books should be accessible especially for younger children - it doesn't matter if they can't read yet - having books available for them to sit and flip through, engage with the pictures and learn what way books go up and that they are 'read' from left to right - it is all great learning and it is start of a love of reading.

If you don't have space for lots of books in your house then make good use of your local library. We have found super useful to have a designated Library book basket - or baskets for any books from the library. That way we can shift the library books around where we want them but they don't get lost among our own book collection. We also have one spot for the library books print out lists to be put (on our fridge). This way when I get the notice in my email that books are due back, I can find the applicable list, and hand it to one of my children asking them to get the books on that list from the library books basket for easy return. It also means we can easily do multiple trips to the library and have multiple due back dates without too much worry or stress of what is due back when. 

Utilize Audio books as much as you want or need. Not all will agree with me here but when it comes to language input - audio books are still reading! and can have a huge impact on growing our childrens language skills. Choose ago appropriate books but don't forget to stretch your children just a little bit beyond their skill level and comprehension - remember we want them to grow in their language base and skills.  There are now a huge range of audio books readily available and multiple different platforms on which to use, depending on what works for your family. It is a great way to try out different authors and series without a large financial output physical copies of books can cost. We have often found the first in a series of books will be available for extremely cheap (eg:  99 cents!) so authors can hook you into the series! But beware - it works.

If you don't want to purchase audio books many libraries now have apps so you can borrow audio books for free via the library app - ask your local library for information about setting that up for your family.

Our family have ended up now investing in audible because we have many members that use it, and it was the most cost-effective way for us to all have access to the same books. The annual cost we generally get back in the free books we get each month. 

Earlier this year I ended up listening to a favourite series our children had all read called the Wilderking Series. I had intended to read it but just hadn't yet found the sit down time to be able to do so. I got so tired of not knowing what my children and husband (he was the one who read the series aloud to them) were talking about around the dinner table and what they are constantly play acting! I was missing out by not knowing and understanding the conversation or the characters. I ended up listening to the audiobooks while cooking in the kitchen or doing some gardening - I got so enthralled with the story myself I would listen to it at every opportunity! My kids thought it was just the best thing ever that mum was listening and enjoying one of their favourite stories and I would finally be able to understand what a 'fechi' was and why our son William wanted to be one and why I was a 'Civilizer'. 

Language is also continued to be developed by having lots of conversations with your children on a regular basis, talking about what the children are listening to via a read aloud or audio book, discussing their favourite picture book and why.

With really little children it is ok NOT to read the words on the page but to talk about the pictures, encouraging them to ask questions or point objects out while you name them. You can even encourage children to create their own story when looking through picture books.

Get older siblings to read out loud to younger ones - encourage grandparents, aunties and uncles, friends to sit down and read! Normalise and encourage reading regularly - if you can lead by example - let your children see YOU read - even if you can only carve out 15 minutes within your day to do so.

I understand how impossible reading can feel when you are a busy homeschooling mum - I adore reading but often just can't carve out the time to do so or by the time I do, I am just too tired to see the words straight on the page. Let me encourage you to try audio books! They have been an absolute game changer for me as I can 'read' while cooking, doing crafts, folding the never ending washing mountain or even while doing gardening!! My favourite time to listen is while doing house painting!

Continued in Part 2.