The Learn to Read Kids Club is more than just about learning to read. It’s also about having FUN!! Try these creative activities and ideas to strengthen your child’s reading skills and create enjoyable reading experiences for your child.
Before Reading Activities
There are more to books than simply reading the story. Exploring a book before reading helps children be more successful when they actually do read the book. By “pre-reading” the book they gain some understanding of what the book might be about. To pre-read, take a book walk! Look at the cover, title, pictures, style of art and photo captions. Doing so will help children explore and predict what the book is about and allows them to engage what they already know and apply it to what they are about to read.
Tell a Picture – Make a “microphone” for your child by wrapping a paperball (a wadded up piece of paper) in cloth and taping the ends closed. Use a piece of tape or stapler to attach a piece of yarn or string (approx. 10”-12”) to the ball. Stuff the string and ball into one end of a toilet-paper tube. Explain to your child that one way to make reading easier is to observe all the pictures and learn about the story before reading. Demonstrate to your child how to “tell a picture.” Point to the cover of the book, and speak into your microphone and describe what you see or make a prediction about the story’s plot based on the cover illustration. Have your child do the same for each picture in the book. You could also take turns with your child in this activity.
NEXT: Go to our After Reading Activities to find out ways to help children review what they’ve read.
