Summer Reading Tips for Parents

Pre-K Students Transitioning to Kindergarten

These reading tips have been developed to support parents as they work with their future “Kindergarteners” during the summer.

READ with and to your child Every Day!

Designate a “Reading Time” and “Special Space” for the whole family or a time when “you and your child” sit down to read.

As you read:

Let your child hold the book and turn pages.
Engage in picture walk-talks by encouraging your child to read the pictures and talk about what they see.
Promote word awareness by moving your finger along under the words.
Point to and talk about pictures that go with the words.
Pause while you read, and ask your child what they think might happen next.
Encourage your child to ask questions about what is being read including “Why” questions.
Introduce and talk about a word that is new to your child.
At the end of the story, talk about your child’s favorite parts and why they liked or disliked about the story.
Ask your child to tell a story for you to write down. Read the story back to your child.
Make a book out of your child’s writing. Have your child draw pictures to go with the words or scribbles.
Read and talk about numbers in counting books, pointing and counting the objects on each page.
Share stories about your child’s life as a baby and a toddler, as well as stories about when you were a child. Share photo albums of when your child was little, and discuss how much they have changed.
Choose books based on your child’s interests.
Choose fiction and non-fiction books and discuss differences.
Choose nursery rhyme books and point out rhyming words. While reading rhyming books, pause before the rhyme and see if your child is able to tell the rhyme.
Discuss the parts of a story - beginning, middle and end.
Identify letters and words that are familiar.
Have your child read a favorite book and use pictures for clues to the story.
Describe the feelings of the characters in the story.
Choose books from the same author. Help your child make comparisons between books.
Discuss the conclusion, and create a new ending for it. What would have happened if......?
Read the same books over and over again.