Reading Tips
for all ages
The ABCs of Active Reading
Reading Tips for All Ages
Read Every Day
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10-15 minutes a day can make a big difference!
Let Them Pick the Books
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Let your child choose books they like—even if it’s the same one over and over. Loving books helps them become better readers.
Talk About the Story
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While you read, ask questions like:
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“What do you think will happen next?”
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"Why did that character do that?”
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“How would you feel if that happened to you?”
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Let them ask questions too!
Additional Tips & Resources
Birth-Pre-K
Share Books with Your Baby
Use books as a way to make conversation and establish dialogue with your baby. Make reading together a part of your daily routine.
Sing to Your Baby
Your baby loves the sound of your voice, so hold her close, and let her enjoy new words in this way.
Respond to your baby’s vocalizations and gestures
When your baby makes sounds, talk back to him. This ‘serve and return’ between you builds his brain!
Lay your baby on her back on your lap when sharing books
Until your baby is ready to sit up independently, she will enjoy seeing your face at the same time as she is looking at the pictures in the book.
Talk to your baby
Describe what you are doing while changing her diaper, bathing, folding laundry, cooking or doing other things. This helps build her vocabulary, and ultimately her reading skills.
Pre-K - 2nd Grade
Review letters and sounds
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The names of letters (A, B, C…)
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The sounds letters make (“B” sounds like buh)
This helps them sound out words!
Review how words work (Phonics)
Phonics means learning how letters work together to make words, like:
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sh
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ch
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th
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and Cate vs. cat
This helps them read and spell new words.
Learn sight words
Some words simply don’t follow the rules and must be remembered, like:
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the
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said
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you
These are called sight words, and kids see them all the time!
Practice word chunks and rhyming
Kids start to notice parts of words, like:
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at in cat, hat, and bat
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ing in jumping, running
This helps them read faster and understand patterns.
Practice reading with fluency
Fluency means reading smoothly, not too slow or too fast. It also means:
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Using expression (like their voice goes up for a question)
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Paying attention to punctuation like exclamation points (!), question marks (?) and periods (.)
This makes reading sound like talking.
Help them understand what they read (comprehension)
It’s not just about reading the words—it’s about understanding the story! Talk with kids about what they're reading. Ask them to tell you:
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What happened in the book
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Who the characters are
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How the story made them feel
Good readers think while they read!
Develop a love of books
Reading should be fun! Kids need time to:
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Pick books they like
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Talk about stories
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Laugh, wonder, and explore through reading
The more they love it, the more they’ll read—and the better they’ll get!
3rd - 5th Grade
Help them practice reading smoothly (this is fluency)
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Show them how to read with expression (like changing their voice for characters)
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Practice pausing at commas and stopping at periods
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Coach them so they don't have to sound out every word
Reading should sound like talking.
Help them understand what they read (comprehension)
At this age, readers should be able to:
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Know what’s happening in the story
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Talk about the characters, setting, and problem
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Tell the main idea
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Ask and answer questions about the text
It’s not just reading the words, it’s thinking about them too!
Teach them about different text types
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Fiction (made-up stories)
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Nonfiction (real facts and information)
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Poetry (writing with rhythm or rhyme)
Each kind has different parts to look for.
Use strategies and smart tricks
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Re-read if something doesn’t make sense
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Create pictures in their mind
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Make predictions (What might happen next?)
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Summarize (What was that part about?)
These tools help readers understand what they're reading.
Grow their vocabulary
Readers learn new words by:
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Using clues in the sentence
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Looking at word parts (like re-, un-, -ful)
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Asking, “What does this word mean?”
The more words you know, the better you understand.
Think about the author
Encourage your reader to ask:
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Why did the author write this?
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What is the author trying to teach or show?
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Do I agree or disagree?
This helps readers think deeply about what they read.
Make connections
Encourage your reader to think:
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“This reminds me of something I’ve read before.”
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“This is like something in my life.”
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“This is something I’ve seen in the world.”
Connections help you understand and care more about what you read.
Frame reading as enjoyable! Not a chore.
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Empower them to find books they love (go to a bookstore or a library and wander around)
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Talk about books in your household and with friends
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Try new ways of reading—different places, types, and experiences
The more your child reads, the better they get, and the more fun it becomes!
Enjoy these free online books!
