Daily reading practice at home (in your home language as well as in English) is crucial for elementary students as it fosters literacy skills, enhances vocabulary, and promotes a lifelong love of reading. Engaging in daily reading practice helps children develop comprehension skills and critical thinking, which are essential for academic success. Furthermore, it strengthens the bond between parents and children, making reading a shared experience that can enhance emotional and cognitive development.

Five Tips for Parents to Engage with Their Child in Reading at Home

• Establish a Daily Reading Routine: Set aside a specific time each day for reading together. This could be during breakfast, after school, or before bedtime. Consistency helps make reading a habit and something both you and your child look forward to.
• Create a Reading-Friendly Environment: Designate a cozy, quiet space in your home where your child can read without distractions. Ensure that this area is stocked with a variety of books that cater to their interests and reading level.
• Encourage Choice in Reading Material: Allow your child to choose what they want to read, whether it’s books, comics, magazines, or even recipes. This autonomy can increase their interest in reading and help them discover new genres.
• Engage Actively During Reading: Make reading interactive by asking questions about the story, discussing the characters, and encouraging predictions about what will happen next. Use different voices for characters to make the experience more enjoyable.
• Come to know and love our UNIS Hanoi Library: Take advantage of Saturday morning library visits and our Saturday Guest Reader programme.  Parents can borrow books from our library too – just use your ID card to check out your titles. We LOVE seeing our students and their parents enjoying our beautiful library – open before and after school, and on Saturdays.  We have a Guest Reader every week.  

By implementing these strategies, parents can significantly enhance their child’s reading experience at home, contributing to their academic growth and fostering a love for literature.