Dear Parents and Carers,

Here are some top tips for reading with your child.  If you can find the time beforehand, read the book to yourself first, so you can think about how you’re going to read it to your child.

On the first reading:

▪ Make reading aloud feel like a treat. Make it a special quiet time and cuddle up so you can both see the book.

▪ Show curiosity about what you’re going to read: ‘This book looks interesting. What do you think it is about? Talk about the front cover.

▪ Read through the whole story the first time without stopping too much.  

▪ Read with enjoyment and lots of expression.  Read favourite stories over and over again.

On later readings:

▪ When reading now, pause and get your child to think about and comment on the pictures.

▪ If you think your child did not understand something, try to explain: ‘Oh! I think what’s happening here is that… Do you think that too?’

▪ Chat about the story and pictures: ‘I wonder why she did that?’; ‘Oh no, I hope she’s not going to…’; ‘What would you have done if you were her?’

▪ Link the stories to your own family experiences: ‘This reminds me of when …’

▪ Link stories to others that your child knows: ‘Ah! Do you remember the dragon in ….? Do you remember what happened to him?’

▪ Encourage your child to join in with the bits they know when you are reading together.

Kind regards,

Dr Charles English Subject Leader