7 Reading readiness signs in kids

Here's a cheat sheet on how to determine your child's reading readiness. And if you find that she isn't ready just yet, we have tips on how to gently help her along.

Reading readiness signs in kids

You've decided to raise a reader. Congratulations! It may be challenging in this digital age, but it isn't impossible.

To get you started on your journey, check on your little one's reading readiness by asking yourself five questions.

But if you answer "no" on some, don't fret! We provide solutions as well to help inch your little bookworm along the reading world.

1. Does she know her letters?

Kinder level teacher, Margot Sabitsana, says that an interest in both letters and symbols is the most basic sign of reading readiness. The building blocks of reading is phonics, which refers to the alphabet, the sounds of each letter, and how these sounds come together to form words.

Read: 8 Ways to teach your child phonics

A reading ready child knows her letters and is able to identify specific letters when asked.

Test this by asking her to point at an "A" on a poster or pick out an "S" among letter blocks. It is also important that she is able to identify both uppercase and lowercase letters.

Teaching tip: Play alphabet games

Teach letters and phonics using fun games and activities. Start by teaching him to sing the ABC song and other alphabet tunes like A You're Adorable. Homeschooling mom, Mariel Uyquiengco, shares on The Learning Basket that it helps to point at each letter as you sing.

"I Spy" is a fun game you can also do to practice letters. Show your child a letter on a flash card, have him identify it, and then tell you what sound it makes. Then ask him to point out different objects around you that start with that letter.

2. Is he interested in words and books?

Homeschooling mom and blogger, May Palacpac, shares that her middle child would spend time looking and browsing through books. She saw the interest and took it as a sign that he was ready to start learning how to read.

She was right. Soon she discovered that her son had started reading on his own, practicing on signs he saw on the street!

Teacher Margot notes that it isn't just an interest in books that you should look out for, but a curiosity for words in general. She shares that kids who are ready to read will try to interpret everything from fast food menus, food labels to stop signs.

Teaching tip: Let your kids see you reading

Children become interested in reading when they see their parents enjoying the activity.

3. Does he know how a book works?

Knowing how to properly use and handle a book is a sign of reading readiness in kids. Give your child a book and observe what he does with it.

Can he comfortably hold it open? Does he know which side is up? Does he flip through the pages from front to back and focus on the words on the page knowing that they tell a story?

Teaching tip: Read together

A regular reading routine is an opportunity to show your kid how to properly use a book.

Ask him to hold the book and take charge of turning the pages as you read. Guide his finger across sentences as you read so that he can follow your progress on each page.

4. Does he understand the stories you read to him?

Was your child able to follow along as you read to him or did he seem lost and confused as the story progressed? Understanding a story is a sign of reading readiness. It is also important in developing an appreciation for books and reading.

You can tell that your child is able to understand the story when he asks questions about the plot, characters or setting, can answer questions about the story, and is able to re-tell the story in his own words.

Teaching tip: Ask questions

As you read to your children, pause once in a while and ask them questions. Take the time to clear up any confusion they might have, and back track in your reading whenever necessary.

5. Has he chosen any books as his favorites?

Your child may ask you to read the same story or series over and over again. This is one sign that he is ready to read and is also enthusiastic about reading, according to book publisher, Scholastic, and preschool teacher turned mom blogger, Michelle Aventajado.

Read: 10 Tips to encourage good reading habits in kids

Teaching tip: Choose stories that your child finds interesting

Take note of types of stories or themes that your child likes, and choose reading materials based on those. If he seems to connect with a particular character in a story, look for more books or other reading materials that feature that character.

Former preschool teacher and homeschooler, Donna Donor, says to choose books with lots of pictures and only a few words per page like "Goodnight Moon." She also recommends board books for smaller kids because their pages are easier to flip.

Touch-and-feel books are also good options, says literacy advocate and educational consultant, Cheryl Goodman. She shares a recent discovery to help build the confidence of the beginning reader—dual reader books.

"The top part of the page is for beginning readers, with only one sentence. The bottom part is for progressing readers, with the same thought as first sentence but with expanded detail," Cheryl says.

6. Can he play around with letters and sounds?

Observe if your child can identify the beginning sound and end sound of words, can clap out how many syllables there are in a word, and knows how to find words that rhyme.

Also find out if he can add to a letter sound to form a word. For example, you give him an "F" sound and he responds by saying "food."

Teaching tip: Play sound games

Teach your child how to rhyme by choosing a word and taking turns saying words that rhyme with it. You can also challenge each other to say as many words as you can that have the same beginning sound or end sound.

Read: Best phonics apps for Android devices: fun reading tools for preschoolers

7. Does she try to read?

Work at home mom and homeschooler, Marge Aberasturi, knew that her eldest daughter was ready to read when she started applying her phonics lessons by trying to read on her own. She started by sounding out letters she would see on milk cartons and coffee packs!

Teaching tip: Encourage your child

If you see (or hear) that your child is trying to read or even just pretending to read, encourage and guide her as she tries to connect the letter sounds to form words. Don't feel discouraged if she is not able to do so right away. Instead motivate her to keep trying.

Get started and have fun on your child's reading journey

Do you have anything to add? Let us know by commenting below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Patricia de Castro-Cuyugan

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Patricia de Castro-Cuyugan

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