A Child’s Future Success Depends on Reading Comprehension
You might wonder, why all the fuss about reading? Isn’t it just one out of the many subjects that children learn at school? Well, it might just be a bit more than that. Increasingly, new research across many countries is showing that the best predictor of future education achievement and life success is reading ability. Here’s how reading can makes a (big) difference one’s life:
- Boosts Employability and Social Skills: We can go on and on about the ways in which children can benefit from reading; but among the major benefits are better crucial language skills (think expanded vocabulary and enhanced comprehension), as well as sharpened social skills (critical thinking skills and emotional development, just to name a few.) These skills are fundamental building blocks for future success in the job market.
- Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: Yes, you read that right. Enhancing reading skills can open doors to better life outcomes and help individuals break free from poverty. There’s a strong correlation between lower income and education levels and lower reading rates. Those who read regularly often see higher educational and financial success. Here some statistics to consider:
- Of those making less than $30K per year, 36 percent have not read a book in the last year.
- Of those making more than $75K per year, only 13 percent have not read a book in the last year.
Critical Early Years for Future Success
Habits formed early, especially in elementary school, can significantly impact a child’s lifelong ability to read and succeed. Research consistently shows that early intervention—prior to third grade—can significantly enhance reading proficiency. On the flip side, delayed intervention often leads to persistent reading challenges.
In fact, mastery of reading by the third grade correlates strongly with higher graduation rates, and the opposite has been show to be linked to a host of negative outcomes:
- Poor early reading skills can lead to higher dropout rates.
- A significant number of juvenile offenders struggle with reading
- 70% of adults in prison can’t read at a fourth-grade level
This stark statistic underscores the critical role of early reading skills in setting up children for future success. Developing robust reading skills by third grade is not just beneficial, it is essential.
The Role of Parental Involvement / Effective Strategies for Parents
Children often mirror their parents’ habits. To encourage your child to read, here are some practical tips to boost your child’s literacy:
- Model reading behavior yourself.
- Show interest in their reading activities and engage with them.
- Establish Reading Routines: Set aside a regular time each day for reading together.
- Discuss Stories: Talk about the stories you read to enhance comprehension.
Promoting Positive Reading Experiences
Not every child has an innate love for reading, but a love for reading can and should be fostered!
- Listen First, Read Later:
- Utilize audiobook resources like Phunics where stories are read to children.
- Discuss stories to enhance understanding and enjoyment.
- Reading Together:
- Transition from listening to reading aloud together.
- Make it fun and interactive by taking turns or acting out parts of the story; ask your child to summarize the story aloud. Our e-books include a recording function so that your little learner can record their summaries and keep track of progress!
- Encourage reading for pleasure:
- Include illustrated books or simpler materials with engaging content; choose from 9 different sets of fun and beautifully illustrated stories from our online library!
- Avoid turning reading into a punishment or associating it with boredom.
Happy Reading!