Do you remember when we were in the kindergarten, first and second grade? Those times when you read to your mom and dad out loud for a few minutes every night? Or maybe you remember your children reading to you aloud. But after about 3^rd or 4^th grade we stopped. But that is probably one of the worst possible times that you let reading out loud go.   It is a fact that around 3^rd or 4^th grade the requirements for reading get more challenging for kids that age. They are reading not only for accuracy-but for comprehension.   I have personally seen 2^nd graders in my practice start with me as great readers; but as the students get older-I saw their reading ability change. Most of the parents of these kids insist that they make their kids read on a regular basis. But usually that means silent reading. There are some known benefits of reading out loud:

1. It helps with comprehension
2. Your child can get immediate feedback on any misread words.
3. It increases vocabulary
4. It increases the child’s ability to communicate with others.

You don’t have to go all in and make your child read out loud to you everyday for 15 minutes. Start small-15 minutes once or twice a week. Many parents are surprised when they hear their children read because sometimes their ability to read aloud sounds “worse” then what they remember. But don’t forget as a child gets older the demands and the vocabulary words get more difficult. It also means that the child needs a little practice in reading aloud. Let’s get back to basics and start having our older kids read aloud again-you will be glad that you did![/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]