MOVING ON FROM PHONICS AND EARLY READING - A PARENTS’ GUIDE TO BOOK BANDS

For parents: reading stories to children
The following has been drawn together to provide the basis for a leaflet schools might
create for parents and carers. Further guidance is available: 10 top tips for parents to
support children to read.
 

Introduction

Your child will bring home two books. One is for your child to read to you. It has been
carefully chosen so that they can work out all the words. The other book has words your
child may not be able to read yet. It is for you to read to your child and talk about
together.

How to read a story to your child

If you can find the time beforehand, read the read-aloud 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. It’s
about an angry child. I wonder how angry he gets…’
• Read through the whole story the first time without stopping too much. Let the
story weave its own magic.
• Read with enjoyment. If you’re not enjoying it, your child won’t.

Read favourite stories over and over again. On later readings:
• Let your child pause, 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…’
• Chat about the story and pictures: ‘I wonder why she did that?’; ‘Oh no, I hope
she’s not going to…’; ‘I wouldn’t have done that, would you?’
• 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.
• Avoid asking questions to test what your child remembers.
• Avoid telling children that reading stories is good for them.

    Below is some further information and documentation that will help you to support your child's reading journey and how you can         help this at home.