How can I help my child understand what they read?

Answer 1

1. Before Reading: Set the Stage

1. Preview the text together: Look at the title, pictures, or chapter headings. Ask, “What do you think this might be about?”
2. Activate prior knowledge: “Have you ever seen/done/read anything like this before?”

2. During Reading: Slow Down and Connect

1. Ask guiding questions:
2. “What just happened?”
3. “Why do you think the character did that?”
4. “What do you think will happen next?”
5. Encourage visualization: Ask them to picture the scene in their head or draw it.

3. After Reading: Reflect and Clarify

1. Summarize together: “Can you tell me what this was about in your own words?”
2. Talk about the message: “What was the most important idea? What did you learn?”
3. Clear up confusion: Go back and reread parts that didn’t make sense together.

4. Build Vocabulary

1. Keep a “word bank” of tricky words they encounter.
2. Talk about what those words mean and use them in a fun sentence.

5. Make It Fun

1. Turn reading into a game (who can find the funniest sentence?).
2. Use silly voices for characters.
3. Let them read aloud to a pet, sibling, or even a stuffed animal.

6. Lead by Example

1. Let them see you reading and talking about what you read. Kids learn a lot just by copying.

If you want, I can share a short worksheet or set of questions you can use for any book you read with your child. Let me know below!

Answer 2

A great way to help a child understand what they read is by having them visualize pictures and text. When reading have them close their eyes and imagine what is being read to them. I have also had kids draw what is read.