A Parent’s Guide to Reading with Children

 

Why Reading Aloud Still Matters

Yesterday, I reflected on the challenges children face when learning to read, and the importance of balancing phonics with sight word instruction. Today, I want to turn to something equally vital but often overlooked: the power of reading aloud.

If decoding skills are the mechanics of reading, then reading aloud is the heart—it brings stories to life, nurtures comprehension, and builds the emotional connection that makes books more than just words on a page.

Reading aloud is one of the most powerful tools parents have. It builds vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills, while also modeling the joy of reading. For all children  it provides access to stories and language far beyond what they can decode on their own.

Vocabulary growth: Hearing rich language daily expands word knowledge.

 

Comprehension skills: Listening to complex narratives helps children understand plot, character, and inference.

 

Emotional connection: Shared reading time strengthens bonds and makes books feel safe and enjoyable.

 

Even teenagers’ benefit—many families continue reading aloud well into secondary school, and children often cherish this ritual.

 

Balanced Instruction: Phonics + Sight Words

 

Research now confirms what many teachers have long practiced: children, especially those predisposed to dyslexia, need a structured literacy approach. This means:

 

Phonics instruction: Systematic teaching of sound-letter relationships to decode words.

 

Sight words: Memorising high-frequency words (like was, who, what) that don’t follow phonetic rules.

 

This combination helps children become flexible readers who can tackle unfamiliar words with confidence.

 

Creating a Reading Culture at Home

 

Children imitate what they see. If parents read regularly, children are more likely to value books themselves. 

 

Some practical strategies:

 

Model reading: Let your child see you enjoying books, newspapers, or magazines.

 

Interactive reading: Pause during stories to ask what they think will happen next.

 

Shared chores reading: Invite your child to read aloud while you cook or fold laundry, turning reading into a natural part of daily life.

 

Modern Supports for Dyslexic Readers

 

Today, parents also have access to tools that weren’t as widespread in 2011(When I first wrote about reading):

 

Audiobooks: Allow children to enjoy stories independently while reinforcing listening comprehension.

 

Decodable books: Specially designed texts that align with phonics instruction, giving children early success.

 

Assistive technology: Apps that highlight words as they are read aloud, bridging decoding and comprehension.

 

Encouragement and Patience

 

Above all, remember that dyslexia is not a barrier to loving books. With patience, consistency, and the right strategies, children can thrive as readers. The goal is not just literacy—it’s fostering a lifelong love of stories, knowledge, and imagination.