Raising a Self-Confident Reader in the Early Years: 5 Easy Steps

Ask the Reading Coach:  Today's question comes to us from a local Bronxville parent: 

How can I provide support in the early years to help my child become a more confident reader?

Carolyn Polchinski, M.S.Ed.

Raising a self-confident reader starts early in every child's life. Children who are read to on a daily basis, as early in life as possible, develop strong literacy skills and become competent, capable readers. Shared reading experiences help children to build a love of reading and nurture their sense of inquiry and discovery.

Every child has a “literate self” that begins to develop long before he or she actively engages with text as an independent reader. Every conversation, every life experience, every new word, and every exploration – All of these build the foundation that provides support for his or her literate self.

How, then, do we as parents and educators help build a self-confident reader?

1. Use Language to Build Meaning - Expressive language development is directly related to a child’s success as a confident and strategic reader. Children who are read to are exposed to fluent, expressive reading. Vocabulary that is delivered in context, as part of a story, has the potential to become part of your child’s language base. The substance of your daily conversations, even at the dinner table or on the way to school in the morning - These exchanges provide the nourishment that your child will one day draw from as a confident, independent reader. 

Engaging in lively conversations, when sharing "book talk" with your child, is one of the many ways you can expand your child’s confidence as a reader. Ask questions, discuss plot development, and foster inquiry in your child. Confident readers learn to question what is being read, draw conclusions based on prior knowledge, and discuss characters and plot with ease. Children who are included in book discussions learn that their input matters – This is empowering!

2.   Nurture Knowledge of Letters and Sounds - Confident readers are secure in their knowledge of letter-sound relationships. The earliest foundation of independent reading – the real “brick and mortar” of emergent literacy – is the understanding of the relationship between letters and sounds. These are the first building blocks in forming one’s literate self.

Playing word games, using letter cards and magnetic letters on the fridge, reading alphabet books from the library, (ABC books), and watching educational DVD’s can all be good practice for your child at this very crucial stage in his or her literacy and language development.

Children learn that letters have sounds and these sounds can be put together to form words. The more secure a child can feel in his or her knowledge of letters and sounds, the stronger his or her confidence in decoding will be when reading independently.

3. Celebrate the Moments! - It is important to celebrate each and every milestone in early literacy. Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, we may miss those precious “small moments” that are so vital to a child’s literacy development. Every time a new letter is identified, or a new word is discovered, these are the very building blocks of your child’s literate self - so celebrate and honor these discoveries!

Keep an ear out for these sacred gifts. They’re right there, every day, as much a      part of early childhood as learning to tie one’s own shoes or riding a bike without training wheels. When your child feels encouraged to ask questions with the confidence that his or her inquisitive nature will be met with consistent support, he or she will continue to develop confidence and a strong knowledge base. 

4. Provide Validation and Reflective Feedback - The support that you can provide in honoring these joyful moments is invaluable to your child. As parents and educators, these discoveries fill our hearts with joy and pride, and for our children, they mark significant milestones in early literacy development.       

Validate each response with positive reinforcement. Authenticate each new     discovery with specific praise, and “mirror back” to your child what he or she has shared. Respond in ways that increase and expand the knowledge base. Once a child enters the realm of actively engaging with text, as an independent reader, he or she will draw from these early language experiences. 

5. Model Enjoyment for Reading – As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, shared reading at home is the single most important practice we can provide when seeking to inspire an avid interest in books. Exploring new titles, discussing characters, and sharing thoughts and observations all contribute to your child’s development as a confident and capable reader.

Also, children who see parents reading independently gain considerable confidence, from just observing this experience. They learn to see reading as an integral part of every day life. These essential, intangible, non-verbal clues are silently sending the message that “Reading Matters”.  Fill your home with books, both fiction and non-fiction, and take weekend visits to libraries and book stores.

Never underestimate your child’s perception of you as a reader. This is perhaps the single most important skill that you can impart as a parent when seeking to develop a confident reader. When you model the value of reading at home, you are providing invaluable support for your child.

If you read at home, with your child as well as to your child, you are sending a very clear signal that reading is valued. In the world of early literacy development, this gift is worth its weight in gold.

 “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go!” ~ Dr. Seuss

Happy Reading!

Carolyn Polchinski, M.S.Ed. is a Clinical Professor of Literacy Education and Licensed Learning Specialist based out of Scarsdale. She is the Founder of Confident Readers, a full-service educational consulting and tutoring firm. To learn more about the programs she offers, call 914.325.0297 or email Carolyn@ConfidentReaders.com .