Thoughtful, skillful readers are made, not born. As Christian parents, we will want our children to learn to be thoughtful and skillful readers for several reasons:

• It prepares them for eternal life. God’s children benefit from good reading skills (if for no other reason) when they thoughtfully read God’s Word until their dying day. In a sense, our children are the only thing we can take to heaven with us, and God’s Word is what keeps their faith strong and keeps them on the path to heaven. This is a matter of eternal life and death.
• It prepares them for this life. Good readers are better prepared to continue their education at higher levels, to serve God through a wider variety of jobs and volunteer opportunities, and to use Christian judgment in processing the various messages media sends at them each day.
• They can be. Good reading skills can be learned by any student. Almost without exception, every child’s brain can learn to read well. If God has given them the ability and opportunity to learn how to read, then they should. High expectations are reasonable, no matter how much a child may currently be struggling.

No real surprises here, right? I’m sure most Christian parents could easily agree with this. The hard part comes in when you have a child who is not interested in reading, fights it, or is behind in their skill development and getting discouraged (or more likely, all of the above). Reading skills develop with practice. In other words, a child needs to be reading to improve at their reading. And the more reading “miles” a child puts on, the better they get. This is why good readers just keep getting better (and smarter). And it’s one big reason why struggling readers tend, well, to continue struggling.

So if you have a child who does not willingly pick up quality books and read, or is behind in their skill development, how can parents help them at home? Here’s a few ideas:

• Let them see you reading. Talk with them about what you are reading. Ask them about what they are reading. This is especially important in encouraging Bible reading and a growing in faith.
• Read to them. At any age. Especially from the Bible or other Scriptural resources, but also from other sources. Make it fun … or interesting … or thought-provoking. Discuss your thoughts about what you’re reading, and ask them what they think.
• Listen to them read. Children need feedback on their reading. They need to practice reading clearly and smoothly. They need to ask questions to improve their learning. And they also sometimes need another person to tell them the book they are reading is too challenging (or too easy) to truly benefit their developing reading skills.
• Help them choose “just right” books. Speaking of books that are too challenging or too easy for current skills, it is important that the majority of a child’s reading practice be done with books that are “just right” for them. With reading, as with almost all types of learning, there is a “learning zone,” that narrow range where the learner is using all their current skills (not too easy) and is also being challenged just enough (but not too much) so as to create learning. Children should mostly be reading books they can read aloud smoothly, with fewer then 5 mistakes or pauses per page.

Again, thoughtful, skillful readers are made, not born. Teachers certainly provide as much instruction and reading time as possible in school, but only with a good amount of at-home reading time will a child’s skills truly begin to take off. As parents, let’s help our children make reading a priority again if it has not been lately. It is well worth the time and effort.