How To Make Learning To Read Fun: Tips For Homeschooling Parents

There's nothing more discouraging than trying to learn something new and feeling overwhelmed or simply not understanding what your'e supposed to do. That's definitely not a fun experience!

Learning to read is a complex task.

You'll want to be sure that your child has the skills or knowledge needed to succeed at each step from learning letter sounds to beginning to read words, phrases and sentences.

One of the reasons why some 4 and 5 year old children struggle to learn letter sounds is because they haven't yet developed enough phonemic awareness to understand that letters represent speech sounds.

It can feel like a chore for some children to be asked to memorize letter sounds without understanding what they are working towards.

An individualized approach meets your child exactly where they are at with activities that are developmentally appropriate.

A good example is choosing to avoid worksheets to learn letters if your child is not yet ready for handwriting.

Phonics is a method of teaching children to read that has been proven to be effective in helping children develop strong reading skills and improve writing and spelling abilities.

Phonics works by teaching children the relationship between letters and speech sounds.

It's best to start with simple letter sound correspondence and gradually building up to more complex phonics rules.

Phonics also helps children to decode and recognize and unfamiliar words in books. By using phonics, children can become independent readers who are able to sound out any text with ease.

Learning to read using phonics doesn't have to be a boring chore!

One of the best ways to make learning to read fun for your child is by engaging your child's senses and making learning phonics a tactile experience.

Interactive and hands-on phonics activities like the ones inside The Playful Path to Reading will help your child stay focused and interested in the lessons.

One of the most important things you can do to make learning to read fun for your child is to make it a regular part of your homeschooling day.

Setting aside a specific time each day for reading activities will help your child develop a sense of consistency and structure.

This can be reassuring and feel safe for any child who is learning new skills.

It can be helpful to hook into an event that happens every day, especially if you sandwich it between something else that your child looks forward to.

You and your child could do a reading activity together every day after breakfast or lunch, and then your child gets to pick out a book for story time or plays outside.

Or maybe there is something special you and your child can do to connect before transitioning into a reading activity.

Children who are 3-5 years old have a short attention span. They might be able to concentrate on an activity for only about 5-10 minutes.

A general rule is to do a pre-reading or reading practice activity for only as long as your child is interested.

If you make learning to read activities part of your daily routine, then you'll likely find it easier to stop when your child is no longer engaged, even if it's been only a couple of minutes.

It can really take the pressure off if you know that you will try again the next day.

Learning to read is a process and your child will make many mistakes along the way.

Some children get caught between wanting to read but not wanting to practice the skills that will help them read because they don't already have those skills. They don't want to risk getting the wrong answer.

Correcting your child's every mistake can actually become an obstacle to learning to read because it creates an environment that feels emotionally unsafe.

Check your own tendency towards perfectionism to become aware of what you might be modelling.

It's a good idea to normalize making mistakes and model having a growth mindset.

When you make a mistake during everyday life, talk about it and frame it as a learning opportunity rather than a failure.

Instead of constantly pointing out your child's mistakes, focus on praising their efforts and progress.

Positive reinforcement can be a powerful motivator for children.

You can also get in the habit of pausing to see if your child self-corrects or asks for your help.

When you jump in too soon to provide the answer, you take away the joy your child will experience by persisting and figuring it out.

Using materials that are self-correcting is another way to create an emotionally safe environment for learning to read.

A fun way to practice reading is to write words on cards and match them with pictures or objects.

Let's say the set includes a pin and a pig. Your child might sound out a word as "pin" and put it with the picture of a pig, but then self-correct when they pick up the "pig" label to read.

You can also just observe your child's mistakes when learning the skills needed to be able to read and use that information to know what to focus on for the next time that you plan to do an activity together.

For example, if your child confuses the sounds represented by the letters d versus b, then you can do activities specifically focused on that.

Each child develops on their own unique timeline so you've got to focus on what you can control.

When it comes to helping your child learn to read, this is your own mindset and your own commitment to offering learning opportunities consistently.

Measure success by asking yourself if you did what you said you were going to do.

Instead of focusing solely on the end result, celebrate the progress your child makes along the way as well as your own commitment to helping your child learn the skills needed for reading.

This can help both you and your child feel more motivated.

Learning to read is a crucial skill for young children, but it doesn't have to be a tedious or boring process.

Children learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process. Incorporating interactive and hands-on phonics activities into your child's homeschooling lessons will make the experience more enjoyable and effective.

By creating a supportive environment that encourages self-correction and uses observation of your child's mistakes to inform your next steps, you can make learning to read more fun for your child.

An individualized learning plan will be a positive experience because it lets your child go at their own pace.