1. Helping your child with reading. 10 Top Tips.

2. Research shows that reading to your child and hearing your child read is the most important thing you can do to help your child’s education.

3. Struggling Readers 1 in 5 children reach the age of 11 unable to read confidently

4. Your Involvement Reading can show you CARE for your child. Reading can help you have a SPECIAL TIME with your child. Reading can unlock CONFIDENCE with your child.

5. Many Mums and Dads have discovered that spending just 10 minutes of focussed reading time a day can make a world of difference, not only to your child, but also to you!

6. Reading All books teach you to read better Comics Football magazines Adverts Instructions Internet information

7. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t! Talk to your child’s teacher as they will have great ideas of how you can help. Using the local Library, and asking them about CD’s, story telling sessions etc. Talk to other parents about favourite stories and swapping them.

8. Find the right level Encourage your child to choose a book that they want to read - confidence and interest. Ask your child’s teacher about suitable books at the right level. Reading harder books that they are interested in, but getting them to read bits that they can. Sharing, rereading familiar books.

9. Make a regular time together! Have a regular story time. Quality time. No TV, mobile, tidying etc. Talking about a book you loved at their age. Local Library. Make up a story. You don’t always need a book!

10. Take time to listen Give them your full attention Give them time to work out a word Take turns to read a story Tell them one thing that you really like about their reading

11. Praise! Praise works wonders! Look out for things your child wants to read e.g. entering a competition, TV Times, model making etc

12. Talk about what you have read Get your child to ask you questions Ask questions about the character in the story Ask your child what they would do if they were in the story/ what is going to happen next

13. Reading all around Go on line Carry a book or comic with you – car, bus, train Encourage them to read signs, adverts, cereal packets etc

14. Have fun ! Read adventure or ghost stories by torchlight Make up a story about when they were little Encourage them to be “story detectives” – looking for clues to help with challenging words