Reading comprehension activities for children

2007-08-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

How to improve your child's reading comprehension

To improve your child's reading comprehension with reading comprehension activities, they must first become inspired about reading. To help inspire children to read, we must create motivation and interest. So lets first consider this question:

What is the purpose of reading?

Well, the purpose of reading is to connect the words on the page to what we already know. If you don't know anything about a subject, then you don't retain much. But if you do, you have a framework in your mind for reading, understanding and storing information. For example, if you like films then reading film reviews is easy.

Good reading = building frameworks for connecting words to thoughts.

My 7 year old nephew is crazy about Spiderman. As he already has knowledge and interest in the subject, he is able to connect the words to his thoughts. In other words he is comprehending or beginning to comprehend what is on the page.

So my advice is to follow these three steps/activities:

Read aloud to your child. This activity increases listening comprehension, which must come first before reading comprehension.
Choose or let your child choose reading material that is already of interest to them. Reading comprehension requires motivation, interest, mental frameworks for holding ideas and concentration.
Ask your child questions about the story or piece of text they have read. Comprehension questions help children identify the main idea, draw conclusion and determine.

Good luck and have fun with these three reading comprehension activities.

Inspired reading comprehension activities on Amazon

I'm always on the look out for inspired reading comprehension activities that are fun, different, and very effective. Check these out.

10 Reading Comprehension Card Games: Easy-to-Play, Reproducible Card and Board Games That Boost Kids' Reading Skills-and Help Them Succeed on Tests

Reading Comprehension Cubes

Hot Dots Reading Comprehension Program