Let reading help your child thrive

What’s the single most important thing parents can do to help their children succeed in life? Encourage them to read. Reading is a skill essential in all areas of achievement. Here are a few tips from the U.S. Department of Education’s website:

• Read aloud to your children often. Start reading to your children when they are babies. As they grow older, encourage them to ask questions and to talk about the story. Ask them to predict what will come next.

• Encourage your children to read on their own. Children who spend at least 30 minutes a day reading for fun develop the skills to be better readers and students.

• Set aside quiet time for family reading. Some families enjoy reading aloud to each other, with each family member choosing a book, story, poem, or article to read to the others.

• Visit the library often. Begin making weekly trips to the library when your child is very young. See that your child gets his own library card as soon as possible.

• Get help for your children if they have a reading problem. Ask teachers about special services, such as after-school or summer reading programs. Also ask teachers or your local librarian for names of community organizations and local literacy volunteer groups that offer tutoring services.