When a child is just being introduced to the world of books and reading in pre-school and kindergarten, parental involvement is particularly important for developing literacy skills. One example of this is a 2004 Florida State University study that found that increased parental involvement improved preschoolers' performance in certain areas of a very basic reading test. Because early literacy provides the basis for all other literacy, parental involvement at this phase is particularly critical for a child's long-term literacy.
Parents can improve their child's reading skills both by helping him with at-home reading assignments and by fostering a positive attitude toward reading. The latter is especially needed for long-term literacy development. When parents emphasize the importance of reading in real life, students will be more likely to apply themselves diligently to developing their literacy skills on their own. Likewise, just by reading him a bedtime story from time to time, parents can teach their child that reading isn't just something you do in class because you have to; reading can be just as much fun as viewing a movie or playing a video game.
Parents volunteering in the classroom can also have a positive influence on their child's literacy. Parent volunteers can contribute their own unique perspectives to reading lessons by reading a favorite story to the class. Furthermore, when parents become involved in classroom literacy activities, they reinforce the importance of reading with their child. When parents volunteer, they also gain a better understanding of the teacher's goals and methodology, allowing them to better help their children with at-home reading work.
Keeping parents informed about their child's literacy development is one of the best tools a teacher has for improving a student's reading abilities. Parents who get regular updates on their child's reading development will be better able to help their child improve in the areas where he particularly struggles. In instances where a child is having pronounced difficulties, parents can work together with teachers to develop concrete strategies and set specific goals for improving the child's reading abilities.