A 'New' New Year's Resolution: Help Your Child Learn to Read

(ARA) - At this time of year, thousands of people challenge themselves to quit smoking, exercise more, eat better or take more pictures. All worthy goals. But there are other worthy goals that get left off the New Years' resolution list.

Children who grow up reading with their parents attend school more regularly and are more likely to complete their educations. Why not add "helping your child to read" to your list of resolutions for 2009? And let's face it, the pleasure of bonding with your child over a favorite book is bound to make this resolution easier to keep than your resolution to go to the gym.

"There's no substitute for reading with your child," says Kyle Zimmer, president and co-founder of First Book, a nonprofit group that distributes books to children in low-income families. "Early and frequent reading with children builds important skills and helps them learn to love reading, and it's fun to do." Studies show parental involvement in early child literacy matters even more to student success than family income or family education.

Hooked on Phonics, maker of award-winning educational tools to help parents teach their children to read, is hosting a Web site -- www.LearnToRead2009.com -- where families can sign-up to make a New Year's Resolution to help children read. When they do, Hooked on Phonics will donate a Learn To Read kit to First Book.

"We hope to help thousands of families -- regardless of income -- make 2009 the year their children learn to read," says Judy L. Harris, CEO of Smarterville, the company that creates Hooked on Phonics.

To help you and your child get your resolution off to a good start, here are a few tips for 2009:

* Set aside "special time" for reading with your child. Just 20 minutes a day will help make reading part of their daily routine.

* Create a "reading space" in your home. A comfortable chair, a library of fun and interesting books, a fuzzy rug -- anything that makes your child feel comfortable and ready to learn.

* Let your child choose the books to read. This will encourage your child to take an active role and will make certain your child is interested in the subject matter.

* Indulge your child and read the same book multiple times. Hearing a book repeated helps your child become more familiar with the language and the story.

* As you read, pause in places to allow your child to complete a rhyme or repeat a phrase or sentence.

* Point to words as you read them and encourage your child to repeat them after you.

* As your child begins to recognize some of the letters, challenge him to find a particular letter on a page.

* Point out words everywhere. Reading doesn't always have to be from books. Road signs, advertising, billboards, menus, and posters can all be opportunities to read.

So why not make 2009 the year you and your child bond while reading together? Visit www.LearnToRead2009.com for more information about reading with your child.

Courtesy of ARAcontent