Help in reading..?

Question

My son is 6 and will soon be in the first grade and he can't read. What can I do to encourage him to read or teach him how to read. He has a problem comprehending letters and their sounds.

Answer 1

My son is 7 and still learning, they will help him.

We read to him 10 minutes a night before first grade.  He has to read 10 minutes silently and 10 minutes to us in first grade

Make sure you do this every night and eventually they get it.  It took him half a year to start reading on his own in first

Answer 2

Very important that you read to him. Have him checked for the usual suspects. Is a little early to be worried about dyslexia, but keep an eye on it. Get hearing and vision checked, either one could contribute to the problem. Enlist the help of his teacher(s), the best teachers LOVE involved parents. Most important is to remember that all kids develop differently and at different rates of speed; While little Johnny is 5yrs. old and reading at a 4th grade level, little Joey might be 8 or even 12 yrs. and reading on a 1st or 2nd grade level. How are his math skills? Usually a child who has problems with reading and spelling etc., will excel at math and science. Be patient with him and don't worry too much about it for... say... another year or so.

Answer 3

Contact the school he attends or will be attending.  Explain the problem and request he be tested for problems.  Most schools will in order to get the child up to speed.  Also, ask if they have a reading specialist.  She/He are a good resource.

Answer 4

There is absolutely no reason why a six year old "has to" be reading.  Children read anywhere from the age of two to about nine, whenever the synapses in their brains connect enough to allow them to read.

Read to him.  A lot.  This will help him to love books.

If you are truly concerned, have him tested for learning disabilities.

Whatever you do, please don't encourage him to see himself as a failure at the age of six.

I didn't read until I was eight, BTW.

Answer 5

At 6 years old, most children should be able to recognize letters and pronounce the various sounds.  I would recommend taking your son for a vision test (with a specific check for dyslexia) AND a hearing test.

On the other hand, if you think your son can read if he tries, but he simply has no interest in it, you can try buying him a toy (or other reward), and tell him he can have it if he is able to read certain words on the package.  Then you can teach him how to read the words, and he might even get excited when he realizes that the words on the package actually describe what's in it. :)