How often should my child read?

I get asked this question daily. I always give a generic answer and then follow up with a more detailed explanation. Children should read as much as possible. The more your child reads, the quicker you will begin to see them develop into healthy and confident readers. As a parent, it is so important to connect with your child’s teacher to know their reading level and gain insight as to their areas of weakness. Your child’s reading level do not determine whether they’re incompetent or not but merely what level of books they are able to read with little to no errors and their ability to comprehend what they read. 

Knowing your child’s reading level also gives you the knowledge you need to know when gathering books for them to read. For example, if your child is reading on a level A, it would be pointless to expect them to successfully read a level K book. Does interest trumps ability? There are some cases where a child can be really interested in a book about animals and is able to comprehend what’s going on in the story. This could be the result of prior knowledge of the subject or their ability to follow along with events in the story. Though it may appear they are able to follow the story, there fluency (the ability to read a text accurately, quickly, and with expression) would be low. This is an indicator that the child is struggling with the text. 

In order to increase the amount of time your child reads, I suggest you know what type of books (fiction, non-fiction, action heroes, princess, comical, etc.) your child shows interest in. You can then scout out books in those areas in order to engage them in reading. You will likely increase the amount of time your child spends reading. On average, a child should read independently for 15 to 20 minutes and the parent should read to them for at least 15 minutes. I recommend that the child reads in a safe and comfortable area that will allow them to focus on the book and feel free to read at their own pace. When the parent reads to the child, they should speak clearly and point to each word, as it will help with word recognition. Make reading fun by reading with expression and reading books that captivates the child’s attention. When they find their niche, you won't have to focus on how often your child should read because they will begin to read without being prompted to do so!

-Deborah C. McClary
Chief Academic Officer