Encourage your child to read for a few minutes each day. Take time to read together each day; take turns reading a book, read aloud to your child, or let your child read to you. Encourage these reading habits by being a good role model: Let your child see that you enjoy reading and read daily. Make reading a family activity.
Make reading an enjoyable task by finding fun books for your child. Choose books based on your child's interests, and past reading preferences. Choose a wide selection of texts, and include comics or magazines, recommends Scholastic. Then, allow your child to choose from the books you have selected. Do not worry if your child chooses to reread the same book again and again, as this helps foster fluent reading, notes Reading Rockets. If you and your child have trouble finding books she enjoys, visit with your local librarian, who is trained in choosing books for readers, suggests Baby Center.
As you read with your child, talk about what you are reading. Together, talk about the illustrations and help your child to use them to gain a better understanding of what is happening. Get involved in the reading by talking about what each of you would do if you were the main character. Ask questions about what is happening, and ask your child to predict what is going to happen next. These questions build good reading comprehension skills.
Find new ways to make reading fun for your child. Take her to story time at your local library or bookstores, recommends Scholastic. As a family, go to see plays or professional storytellers. After enjoying a book, rent the movie and watch it together.
Do not rush your child when she is reading. Give your child time to read and process information without being impatient or critical. Help her to figure out words for herself through context clues, illustrations or by decoding the word. Make reading a positive experience for your child.