How can parents help young children to read without making them switch off? | Children's books

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href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/series/the-book-doctor">The book doctor</a></h4> <div class="relative-series-navigation"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/07/book-doctor-victorian-mystery">Previous</a> | <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/20/book-doctor-reading-group">Next</a> | <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/series/the-book-doctor">Index</a> </div> </div> <div id="badge-medium"> <h1> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/series/the-book-doctor"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/3/1/1299002445521/The_book_doctor_620.jpg" alt="The book doctor" width="620" height="120" class="image-badge"/> </a> </h1> </div> <div id="main-article-info"> <h1>How can parents help young children to read without making them switch off?</h1> <p id="stand-first" class="stand-first-alone">Schools are passing their anxiety on to parents. The best thing you can do is support the idea of reading for pleasure</p> </div> <ul id="content-actions" class="share-links"> <li class="share-links"> <ul> <li class="full-line tweet tweet_button"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://gu.com/p/35e7z/tw" data-via="guardian" data-counturl="http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/book-doctor-julia-eccleshare-learning-to-read" data-related="gdnchildrensbks" data-text="How can parents help young children to read without making them switch off?">Tweet this</a> </li> <li class="third-party-tool full-line facebook"> <span class="facebook-share"> <a class="facebook-share-btn" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.facebook.com/dialog/feed?app_id=180444840287&link=http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/book-doctor-julia-eccleshare-learning-to-read&display=popup&redirect_uri=http://static-serve.appspot.com/static/facebook-share/callback.html&show_error=false" data-href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/book-doctor-julia-eccleshare-learning-to-read" data-link-name="Facebook Share"> <span class="facebook-share-icon"></span> <span class="facebook-share-label">Share</span> <span class="corner-tl"></span> <span class="corner-tr"></span> <span class="corner-bl"></span> <span class="corner-br"></span> </a> </span> </li> <li class="third-party-tool last-line reddit"> <span class="reddit_button"> <a target="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fchildrens-books-site%2F2012%2Ffeb%2F13%2Fbook-doctor-julia-eccleshare-learning-to-read&amp;title=" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fchildrens-books-site%2F2012%2Ffeb%2F13%2Fbook-doctor-julia-eccleshare-learning-to-read&title=" data-link-name="Reddit image" class="share-this-tracking"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/098d7b8aa55b974db8b0c8aeea588bb3f38417e7/common/images/icon_reddit.gif"/> </a> <a target="http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fchildrens-books-site%2F2012%2Ffeb%2F13%2Fbook-doctor-julia-eccleshare-learning-to-read&amp;title=" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardian.co.uk%2Fchildrens-books-site%2F2012%2Ffeb%2F13%2Fbook-doctor-julia-eccleshare-learning-to-read&title=" data-link-name="Reddit text" class="share-this-tracking">reddit this</a> </span> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="content"> <ul class="article-attributes b4"> <li class="byline"> <div class="contributer-full"> <a class="contributor" rel="author" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/juliaeccleshare"> Julia Eccleshare</a> </div> </li> <li class="publication"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/">guardian.co.uk</a>, <time datetime="2012-02-13T07:37EST" pubdate>Monday 13 February 2012 07.37 EST</time> </li> <li class="history js-show"> <a class="rollover history-link" href="#history-link-box">Article history</a> <div class="toolbox-popup" id="history-link-box" style="width: 460px"> <div class="send-inner"> <div class="share-top"> <h3>About this article</h3> <span><a class="close-toolbox" href="#history-link-box">Close</a></span> </div> <div class="section"> <h1>How can parents help young children to read without making them switch off?</h1> This article was published on <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/">guardian.co.uk</a> at <time datetime="2012-02-12T19:00EST" pubdate>07.37 EST on Monday 13 February 2012</time>. </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <div id="article-wrapper"> <div id="main-content-picture"> <img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/9/21/1316603947213/Mother-and-child-reading-007.jpg" width="460" height="276" alt="Mother and child reading"/> <div class="caption">The most important thing a parent can do is support the idea of reading for pleasure Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the Guardian</div> </div> <div id="article-body-blocks"> <blockquote class="quoted"><p>My five-year-old doesn't seem to be making as much headway in reading as the school wants. They say that helping him at home is the key for the 'tricky words' but I'm finding it very hard. I don't know what the 'tricky words' are. If I try to make him practise his school reading at home he just switches off. I feel I'm failing and he's failing but he's only five and used to like books.</p></blockquote><p><br/><strong>Sue, a parent at London's <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine-childrens-festival"> Imagine festival</a></strong></p><p>Having spoken to a great many parents of four- to six-year-olds it seems that there is a desperate anxiety about children learning to read. Parents have picked up the government's alarm at the UK's sluggish performance in international reading tables, and on schools' terror lagging behind in the national league tables; inevitably, they are projecting both on to their own child and it seems to be filling homes with dread. </p><p>Teaching children to read has always been at the core of primary education. How and at what precise age it is taught has varied from one generation to another. The help parents can give their children in learning to read has also been a long-established part of the reading debate – and it has never been easy. What's new now is the very young age at which reading is being taught and the exceptional emphasis on measurable success. </p><p>"Why can't they wait until they're older?" Of course, they could. There is no biologically fixed age at which children should or shouldn't be able to read. The Scandinavian education system in which children start school, and therefore learn to read, much later, looks tempting. For some children, learning to read is a pretty straightforward matter however it is taught. But that isn't true for all. </p><p>For all parents, the best thing you can do at home is to stick to the idea of supporting reading for pleasure. Have lots of books around, read aloud regularly and encourage children to 'read' pictures whether in print or electronically so that they can 'tell' themselves stories. </p><p>If called upon by school to take an active role, ask for help. The current fashion for teaching reading through <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.syntheticphonics.com/synthetic_phonics.htm">synthetic phonics </a> is very different to the way most parents learned to read so teachers are going to have to help parents 'learn' to read in this way, too, if they are to be useful. Parents, teachers, the government and even children themselves want children to learn to read and to enjoy doing so; it will be a pity if it comes at too high a price.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div id="related"> <ul id="article-toolbox-side" class="b4 left"> <li class="printable"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/book-doctor-julia-eccleshare-learning-to-read/print" rel="nofollow" id="printlink" class="printable rollover" title="Link to a printer-friendly version"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935im_/http://static.guim.co.uk/static/098d7b8aa55b974db8b0c8aeea588bb3f38417e7/common/images/icon_print.gif" alt="Print this" class="trail-icon"/><span>Printable version</span></a></li> <li><a class="rollover send-email" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/email/1703157" title="Opens an email form"><img 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datetime="2012-02-12T19:00EST" pubdate>07.37 EST on Monday 13 February 2012</time>. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="promo"> <div id="promo" class="four-col edge"> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="comp: MPU advert : MPU"> <div id="Middle1" class="four-col hide-on-popup"> <div id="ad-placeholder-Middle1"></div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="comp: Blog archive calendar : Blog archive"> <div class="blogs-calendar component"> <h4 class="t6 b2">Children's books weekly archives</h4> <div id="calendar-container" class="bd"> <table title="Calendar for February" summary="Calendar for February" id="calendar"> <thead> <tr> <th colspan="7" scope="col"> <strong class="month">Feb 2012</strong> <a title="Previous month" href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/jan/30/week" class="previous"> <img 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class="not-this-month ">31</td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/jan/30/week">1</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/jan/30/week">2</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/jan/30/week">3</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/jan/30/week">4</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/jan/30/week">5</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/06/week">6</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/06/week">7</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/06/week">8</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/06/week">9</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/06/week">10</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/06/week">11</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/06/week">12</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/week" class="today">13</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/week">14</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/week">15</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/week">16</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/week">17</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/week">18</a></td> <td class="last"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/13/week">19</a></td> </tr> <tr class=" has-links "> <td class="first"><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/20/week">20</a></td> <td><a 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href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/27/week">28</a></td> <td><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/2012/feb/27/week">29</a></td> <td class="not-this-month ">1</td> <td class="not-this-month ">2</td> <td class="not-this-month ">3</td> <td class="not-this-month last">4</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div> </span> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="microapp: twitter-app : Grouped Twitter Feed (Promo) : Twitter"> <div id="guardianchildrensbooks" class="promo-component twitter-container" data-fetch-url="http://resource.guim.co.uk/twitter/jsonlist/guardianchildrensbooks.jsonp" data-latest-tweet="178183692966043649"> <div class="hd"> <h3>Guardian children's books on Twitter</h3> </div> <div class="bd"> <p class="l2"> </p> <ul> <li class="l1 tweet"> <a 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Win the chance to walk the Olympic 2012 track with Paddington! <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://t.co/4MLDHjDd" target="_new">http://t.co/4MLDHjDd</a></p> <span><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/GdnChildrensBks/statuses/178183692966043649">about 12 hours, 45 minutes ago</a></span> </li> <li class="l1 tweet"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/GdnChildrensBks"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935im_/http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1259796326/Guardian_Books_badge_01_normal.jpg" alt="GdnChildrensBks" height="40" width="40"/></a> <p><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/GdnChildrensBks"><strong>GdnChildrensBks:</strong></a> Calling all under 16yr olds.Ethical Awards are looking for next pioneer with a bright idea. More Info+entry here <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://t.co/aJIoYCk4" target="_new">http://t.co/aJIoYCk4</a></p> <span><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/GdnChildrensBks/statuses/178141487559749633">about 15 hours, 33 minutes ago</a></span> </li> <li class="l1 tweet"> <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/GdnChildrensBks"><img src="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935im_/http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1259796326/Guardian_Books_badge_01_normal.jpg" alt="GdnChildrensBks" height="40" width="40"/></a> <p><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/GdnChildrensBks"><strong>GdnChildrensBks:</strong></a> Have you seen our new competition? You could win the chance to walk the Olympic track with Paddington <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://t.co/4MLDHjDd" target="_new">http://t.co/4MLDHjDd</a></p> <span><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/GdnChildrensBks/statuses/177812540087222273">about 1 day, 13 hours ago</a></span> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ft">• <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/twitter/list/guardianchildrensbooks">Find more tweets from @Gdnchildrensbks</a><br>• <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://twitter.com/gdnchildrensbks">Follow @GdnChildrensBks on Twitter</a></div> </div> </span> <div id="promo" class="four-col edge"> <span class="trackable-component component-wrapper four-col" data-component="comp: Advertiser links for promo slot : Bottom advertiserlinks"> <script type="text/javascript"> google_ad_client = 'ca-guardian_js'; google_ad_channel = 'children'sbooks'; </script> <script> google_max_num_ads = '3'; </script> <div id="google-ads-container" class="four-col promo-component advertiser-links" style="display: none;"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> //<![CDATA[ if (true) { writeScript("http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js", false, function(){}); } // ]]> </script> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="component eight-col more-in-series"> <div class="hd"> <h2>More from <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20120310070935/http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/series/the-book-doctor">The book doctor</a> </h2> </div> <div class="bd"> <p class="l1 four-col"> Got a question about children's books? 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