Q: My child does not read at all when we are not home to supervise. My domestic helper finds it impossible to control him as well.
A: While it is often difficult to exert proper control over a child's learning needs, parents or their helpers can make this job that much more palatable by letting the child sit down for a mere 15 minutes a day. Here's how:
Flip through a phonics book and have the child read from it
Do not insist that he gets it right immediately. With practice the child will improve.
Give him two fun exercises on phonics. Let it contain activities which include colouring or circling the correct answers so that it is interesting for the child.
Do this daily for a month till the child is more accustomed and receptive to reading before increasing the duration.
Remember that it is far more beneficial to have the child sit down to short but regular lessons where he will benefit rather than long sessions which may bore him and stifle his interest in reading altogether.
