Enjoyment is essential in the process of helping your child become a reader. All of the following activities are written with this thought in mind. So, if you and your child don't enjoy one activity, move on to something else and try it again later.

1. Include The Physical Part Of Reading

• pointing out objects in the pictures;

• following the words with your finger (so your child develops a sense that the words go from left to right on the page); and

• having your child help turn the pages (to learn that the pages turn from right to left).

They will shape your child's first impression of the world of reading.

When you read easy books, beginning readers will soon be reading along with you. When you read more advanced books, you instill a love of stories, and you build the motivation that transforms children into lifelong readers.

Repetition makes books predictable, and young readers love knowing what comes next.

• Pick a story with repeated phrases or a poem you and your child like.

• Read slowly, and with a smile or a nod, let your children know you appreciate their participation.

• As children grow more familiar with the story, pause and give them the chance to "fill in the blanks."

• Encourage your children to pretend to read, especially books that contain repetition and rhyme. Most children who enjoy reading will eventually memorize all or parts of a book and imitate your reading.

Poems are often short with lots of white space on the page. This makes them manageable for new readers and helps to build their confidence.

When children act out a good poem, they love its rhyme and the pictures it paints with a few well-chosen words. They grow as readers by connecting emotion with the written word.

• Read a poem slowly to your child, and bring all your dramatic talents to the reading. (In other words, ham it up.)

• If there is a poem your child is particularly fond of, suggest acting out a favorite line. Be sure to award such efforts with delighted enthusiasm.

• Then suggest acting out a verse, a stanza, or the entire poem. Ask your child to make a face of the way the character in the poem is feeling. Remember that facial expressions bring emotion into the performer's voice.

• Again, be an enthusiastic audience for your child. Applause is always nice.

• If your child is comfortable with the idea, look for a larger setting with an attentive, appreciative audience. Perhaps an after-dinner "recital" for family members would appeal to your child.

• Mistakes are a fact of life, so ignore them.

6. Allow Your Children To Read To You It's important to read to your children, but equally important to listen to them read to you. Children thrive on having someone appreciate their developing skills..

• Listen attentively as your child reads

• Take turns. You read a paragraph and have your child read the next one. As your child becomes more at ease with reading aloud, take turns reading a full page. Keep in mind that your child may be focusing on how to read, and your reading helps to keep the story alive.

• If your children have trouble reading words, you can help in several ways:

• Tell children how proud you are of their efforts and skills.

Listening to your children read aloud provides opportunities for you to express appreciation of their new skills, and for practice. Most importantly, it's another way to enjoy reading together.

Talking about what you read is another way to help children develop language and thinking skills. You don't need to plan the talk, discuss every story, or expect an answer.

• Read slowly and pause occasionally to think out loud about a story. You can speculate: "I wonder what's going to happen next!" Or ask a question: "Do you know what a palace is?" Or point out: "Look where the little mouse is now."

• Answer your children's questions, and if you think they don't understand something, stop and ask them. Don't worry if you break into the flow of a story to make something clear.

• Read the name of the book's author and illustrator and make sure your children understand what they do.

When collecting books is an important family activity, parents send the message that books are important and fun.

• Visit the library. Get a library card in your child's name and one for yourself if you don't have one. Go to the children's section and spend time reading and selecting books to take home. Check out books yourself to show your child that everyone can use and enjoy books and the library. Be sure to introduce your child to the librarian and ask about special programs the library has for children.

• Start your own home library. Designate a book case or shelf especially for your child. Encourage your child to arrange the books by some method --books about animals, holiday books, favorite books.

• Keep an eye out for inexpensive books at flea markets, garage sales, used book stores, and discount tables at book stores. Many public libraries sell old books once a year. You will find some real bargains!

• Make your own books. Child-made books become lasting treasures and part of your home library.

Turn your child's writing into a homemade book. The effect will be powerful. Suddenly books become a lot more human and understandable.

• Paste pages of your child's writings onto pieces of construction paper.

• Discuss the order the writings should go in. Should all the writings about animals go in one section and the writings about holidays in another? Which writings are the most important and where should they be placed in the book?

• Number the pages.

Making books is a multi-step process from planning to writing to producing a final product.

Making books to share with others is also a terrific homeschool project. Older students can write with a specific audience in mind and, once their project is complete, share it with that audience. This is especially effective when writing children’s stories.

The study of History can also be integrated into a book making project. Students may choose a period of history, research the popular literature of the day as well as the historical events that shaped the period, and create a book that reflects that time period. All genres can be integrated into this project—from poetry to documentary, this is an outstanding way to review your history lessons.

Making books involves several academic steps: evaluating the interests of the audience; research and planning; writing; illustrating (art), and reading are all combined into one effective project.

It is important to keep fun in your parent-child reading and to let joy set the tone and pace. While helping your child become a reader, the qualities of patience, confidence, and playfulness in your approach will get results. If, from time to time, your child gets distracted and loses interest, take a break. Children love to learn. Give them a little breathing room, and their interest will always be renewed.

Although the life of a parent is often hectic, you should try to read with your child at least once a day at a regularly scheduled time. But don't be discouraged if you skip a day or don't always keep to your schedule. Just read to your child as often as you possibly can.

If you have more than one child, try to spend some time reading alone with each child, especially if they're more than 2 years apart. However, it's also fine to read to children at different stages and ages at the same time. Most children enjoy listening to many types of stories. When stories are complex, children can still get the idea and can be encouraged to ask questions. When stories are easy or familiar, youngsters enjoy these "old friends" and may even help in the reading. Taking the time to read with your children on a regular basis sends an important message: Reading is worthwhile.

You may go through a period when your child favors one book and wants it read night after night. It is not unusual for children to favor a particular story, and this can be boring for parents. Keep in mind, however, that a favorite story may speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and eventually they will be ready for more stories.

It's often a good idea to talk about a story you are reading, but you need not feel compelled to talk about every story. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or without conversation. And sometimes children need time to think about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be surprised if your child mentions something from a story you've read together.