A strong foundation in reading and comprehension is key to your child's success across all areas of learning. Here are some tips to help you support and nurture their skills at home:

1. Make Reading a Daily Habit
Set aside time each day for reading. Let your child choose books that interest them, whether they are fiction or non-fiction. Reading regularly helps your child become familiar with different text styles, building both their confidence and their enjoyment of reading.

2. Ask Questions While Reading
While reading with your child, ask open-ended questions to encourage them to think about the story and its characters. For example, "Why do you think the character made that choice?" or "What do you think will happen next?" Discussing the story helps develop their comprehension skills, allowing them to connect ideas and make predictions.

3. Explore New Vocabulary Together
When your child encounters an unfamiliar word, take the opportunity to explore it together. Talk about what the word might mean based on the context, and encourage your child to use it in their own sentences. Building a strong vocabulary is an essential part of understanding and enjoying texts.

4. Practise Comprehension Strategies
Help your child use different strategies to deepen their understanding of texts. Encourage them to visualise scenes by asking, "What do you picture when you read this?" or relate stories to real-life experiences with questions like, "Does this remind you of anything you've experienced?" You can also model good strategies by pointing out clues in the text or highlighting features like headings in non-fiction. After reading, ask your child to retell the story or summarise key points to reinforce their comprehension skills.

8. Use a Range of Texts
Encourage your child to read a variety of texts, including books, comics, magazines, and information sheets. Each type of text offers different challenges and helps develop a range of comprehension skills. For example, reading comics can help with understanding dialogue, while non-fiction articles can build their ability to identify key information.

9. Explore Books and Stories Beyond the Home
Visit local libraries, museums, and galleries to inspire a love of reading and storytelling. Libraries offer a wealth of books for all interests, and many have storytime sessions or book clubs. Museums and galleries provide rich, real-world experiences that can spark conversations, prompt curiosity, and encourage your child to explore new topics through books. These outings not only expand their knowledge but also give them more to connect with when reading different texts.

10. Celebrate Their Progress
Celebrate your child's reading successes, whether it’s finishing a new book, using a new word correctly, or sharing an interesting idea from their reading. Positive reinforcement boosts their confidence and motivation to keep exploring new texts.

By incorporating these practices at home, you can help your child build a strong foundation in reading and comprehension, fostering a love of reading that will support them throughout their education and beyond.