How to Help Your Child Read Above Their Grade-Level

Start Young

Study after study show the importance and benefits of reading to young children. This simple act can go a long way toward helping your child develop a love of reading, enhance speech and communication skills, help with logical thinking and strengthen concentration. All of these can certainly help your child to begin reading on their own at a much younger age, and could result in them reading above their grade-level later on in life.

Self-Challenge

Encourage your child to challenge themselves. Take away the picture book and see if your child can read a few words in a book meant for older children. It's important, though, not to force this or continue with it if your child gets frustrated. This might lead to a dislike of reading.

A Pleasurable Experience

Also encourage your child to read for pleasure. If your child understands that reading is fun, it's something they'll want to do more and more. Of course, the more they do it the better their fluency and comprehension will get.

Sum It Up

You can help your child form comprehension skills by asking them what they have read. Have them summarize the story they are reading. The ability to explain what has been read helps to improve not only reading but retention skills as well.

Fun and Games

You can make learning to read or improving reading ability fun by playing games that help build language skills. Games like Scattergories, UpWords and 20 Questions promote the development of vocabulary and literacy skills.

Going Digital

Invest in a Nook or Kindle. An electronic reader will allow children to choose what they want to read when they want to read it, and to do so in a way to which they can relate. We live in a world where most kids are tethered to some sort of electronic device. Why not make it one from which they can get the benefits of reading?

Monkey See...

Be a role model. Read books, magazines and newspapers. Incorporate 'family reading time' if possible. If your child sees you reading, chances are good he or she will want to do the same. And of course the more they want to the more they likely will, and before you know it they'll be reading above their grade-level...thanks in large part to you!