Four Ways to Encourage A Love of Reading For Kids With Learning Differences

Reading Time: 3 mins, 51 secs

Reading is for everyone and to love it is not only for those who have mastered the skill but for anyone, regardless of ability. Enjoying and getting something from a story is not limited to the words printed on the pages. The path to learning to read is different for everyone; especially when there are additional challenges.

Learning differences can be such a broad spectrum of very individual challenges. Each person’s capabilities need to be assessed and managed with professional assistance. Working with reading specialists who have learning differences training can help readers manage the obstacles standing in their way. Encouraging and supporting the methods in which your child is learning to read can help them achieve their goals. Together with teachers, tutors, and other professionals, you are your child’s support team helping your child read.

Discovering the love of reading can be encouraged regardless of ability; fostering the appreciation outside of the written word. 

Here are four ways to help your differently-abled learner develop a lifelong love of reading:

1. Listening

Story hours, audiobooks, and reading aloud are great options for readers to hear and understand the story without the pages.  

Local libraries offer story hours for younger children, sometimes even inviting local authors to read their works in person. These opportunities allow for children to not only to listen but to visually comprehend the emotion of the written word through the reader's expression. Almost every local library offers a story hour, and you do not typically need to be a member to attend.  Meet the Author events at local booksellers are another opportunity to connect with a story and the creator of the works.  

Audiobooks are a great option for all ages. Local libraries can offer a wide variety of titles and topics through Libby. With Libby you can enjoy free digital audiobooks from your library—all you need is a library card. Note that with Libby there can be wait lists and limited availability on topics, authors, and genres, however, there are also many subscription services available. Audible is a very well-known service through Amazon that has different plans based on your needs. Audiobooks.com is another subscription service that offers the flexibility to also purchase favorite books.

Reading aloud together is the simplest option to help instill the love of reading by example and to create lasting memories. 

2. Visual Comprehension

Listening and following along with picture books is a great way to offer two types of story input. This can occur in many story hours or reading aloud with your child. Discussing what is happening in the images in addition to hearing the words can offer insight into more than just the words on the page.

There are many shows that promote literacy and encourage understanding, comprehension, and appreciation of reading. Most famously is Reading Rainbow; offering not only reading a story out loud and showing the original illustrations but also discussing the topic and supporting activities. You can also find many other programs that continue to support the love of reading without actually flipping pages.

3. Related Activities

There are many ways to weave learning into everyday life so appreciation doesn’t necessarily end when the book is put away. Games and discussions about stories can keep the momentum going. Ensuring comprehension of a story can be as simple as discussing the plot. Try these questions next time you finish a story together:

• Did you enjoy the story?  

• How could the story have ended better?  

• What if you were the main character how would you have responded to the situation?

• What if you were a supporting character, how would you have helped the primary role?

Questions around the story and the characters help the comprehension as well as help you gauge the progress of your child’s reading skills.  

Other activities based on the storyline can also trigger a desire to read more on the same topic or storyline. If your reader has a favorite reading genre, foster the enthusiasm by seeking out events like comic cons and shows or events related to their topic of interest. Other activities revolving around stories and reading can be found here.

4. Supporting the Support

Working with your child’s educators is the key to meeting their needs. Understanding the collective goal is a team effort between teachers, students, and parents. Ensure assigned exercises are understood and completed successfully. If there are challenges that cannot be met, talk with your support system and work together to ensure your child’s success. There should be a smooth transition of support between school and home.

Supporting your young reader with enthusiasm and an appreciation of reading will help them find joy in an activity that they may struggle with.

Learning differences can create lifelong challenges, but by encouraging enjoyable activities your child can develop a literacy toolbox that will be used well into the future. Leveraging activities like audiobooks, videos, and activities focused on characters will drive a connection to books.  Interest in the story as opposed to the act of reading can foster a lifelong appreciation for understanding and comprehension which is the overall goal of reading in the first place!

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