By Clarice Honeywell, M.S., N.C.S.P.
Licensed School Psychologist
Educators and researchers have finally come to a consensus that Reading is the fundamental key to achieving academic success. Thus, preventing reading failure has become the top priority in our educational systems nationwide. We’ve known for many years that many children have trouble reading and research has shown that about 20 percent of elementary students have significant problems learning to read , while another 20 percent do not read fluently enough to engage in independent reading.
In the classroom, reading instruction usually focuses on specific skills such as sounding out words and building vocabulary. However, the development of positive reading attitudes is often overlooked. Children with positive reading attitudes tend to be willing to read, enjoy reading, and become lifelong readers. On the other hand, children with poor attitudes toward reading may only read when they are required to read, tend to avoid reading, and may even refuse to read altogether. Parents need to know that a child’s attitude toward reading may have a profound impact upon his or her overall academic progress.
As children progress from early childhood through their school years, they develop strong likes and dislikes, including positive or negative attitudes toward reading. Parents may underestimate the critical role they play in the development and shaping of their child’s reading attitude. For example, young children view their parents as experts. Therefore, the information and values that parents share with their children about the importance of reading can significantly affect the attitudes that their parents develop. Parents are also role models for their children. By observing the attitudes that their parents exhibit-both verbally and nonverbally- toward reading, children will tend to develop and demonstrate similar attitudes. Furthermore, because children (particularly preschoolers) seek and desire approval from their parents, they tend to develop the attitudes and values that parents will praise and reinforce.
What you can do as a Parent in Developing a Positive Attitude for Reading in Your Child:
v Provide a variety of reading materials such as magazines, newspapers, books, dictionaries, encyclopedias and other reference materials in the home. By having easy access to reading materials, your child will be more likely to read for pleasure and/or to obtain information.
v Read with and to your child. Young children as well as older children enjoy listening to stories read with them and to them. Also, consider setting aside a “family reading time” on a regular basis. Each member of the family could read a portion of the book.
v Visit the library so that your children can select their own reading materials based on their individual interests. Frequently, “story time” is offered at the local library, which can be a particularly enjoyable activity for young children.
v Acknowledge your child when he or she reads or shares information obtained from reading. Because children want to please their parents, your recognition and positive reaction will have a significant impact upon their desire to read.
Portions of this article were reprinted with permission from the National Association of School Psychologists, “Helping Children at Home and School”: Handouts from your school psychologist.