Frightful Feelings About Reading How to Help Your Child Feel Brave With Books
HAUNTED BY HARD WORDS Sometimes, the words in a book look scary if your child has difficulty sounding out words or understanding new vocabulary. Reading can feel frustrating and intimidating when they can’t work through a word or don’t know what it means. Some of the best ways you can help them overcome this fear are by reading out loud with them, taking turns reading, and encouraging them. Praise them when they can say a tricky word, and remind them of other times when they succeeded on a reading challenge. STAGE FRIGHT If your child expresses that they dislike reading out loud or tends to avoid reading in front of others, they could be afraid of judgment from their classmates or family members. It could also mean their classroom environment is loud or crowded, making it hard for them to focus or feel supported. Create a quiet, safe space at home for them
October brings pumpkins, costumes, and plenty of spooky fun, but ghosts and goblins aren’t the only scary things lurking around the corner for little learners who are struggling with reading. For some children, there’s nothing more frightening than the words on a page. But, just like you can chase away a monster under the bed, you can encourage and support your child so they can find the treats in reading.
and encourage them to practice reading aloud. Let them pick out a book or comic that interests them to help keep it fun, or make a game out of it, like wearing costumes. GHOSTS OF READING PAST We all make mistakes, but past errors and the fear of failure can cause children to shy away from books. Your little one may remember feeling embarrassed about their struggles with letters or maybe was teased for mispronouncing words. Continuous practice can help them become more confident, as well as give them choices on the topics they want to read about. Remind them that when we are learning, we all make boo-boos along the way. Celebrate the small wins. Reading doesn’t have to be scary. At the Reading Ranch, we help children face their reading fears and turn spooky words into exciting adventures. Contact us today!
Chapter Book Countdown Signs Your Child Is Ready to Read Longer Stories
THEIR WORD BANK Your child’s vocabulary and ability to use context clues can also tell you if they’re ready for chapter books. They should have a reasonably large word bank before they move to these stories, as they may have more words than books they are used to reading. More than anything, they should understand how to figure out unfamiliar words by looking at the rest of the sentence. You can try the “five-finger rule” by having them open up a page and raise a finger for each word they don’t know. If they lift 1–3 fingers, they should be able to read the book. Anything above that may need extra support or be a little tricky at this point. Many chapter books for kids still have illustrations, so opt for one with pictures to help them figure out new words. By watching for signs and testing out their vocabulary and memory, you can get a sense of your child’s readiness for more challenging chapter books. No matter where they are on their literacy journey, The Reading Ranch can help every reader build confidence and a joy for books!
Are you wondering if it’s time for your child to make the leap from picture books to chapter books? Moving into more complex stories is an exciting milestone on your little learner’s journey, but it doesn’t look the same for every young person. While some children are eager to dive into longer books with more detailed plots, others need more time. Children typically start chapter books around ages 7–9, but watch for the clear signs they may be ready to get an early start. MEMORY IN ACTION Unlike the stories your child has been reading up to this point, chapter books take multiple sittings to finish. You must remember what happened in the previous chapters to understand where the plot and characters are going next. If your child shows signs they remember stories for several days after reading them, it may mean they have enough memory to advance to chapter books. After you read something together, ask them questions about it the next day. You can also ask them to draw pictures based on the book or retell the story chronologically.
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