Whether you’re setting aside time to read with your child or establishing a broader learning schedule, it’s crucial to ensure that the schedule is both balanced and effective. Following a few key guidelines can help you create a reading schedule or learning schedule that works for your child’s age, development, and daily schedule.
Set a Routine Based on Your Child’s Age and Daily Schedule
Consider your child’s age and ability to concentrate when planning their reading or learning schedule. Think about their daily energy levels: do they attend school during the day? When are they most alert and ready to learn? Based on these factors, allocate a consistent time each day for reading or other educational activities. Younger children may need shorter, more frequent sessions, while older children can handle longer, more focused periods of study.
Research by the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report and the Journal of Educational Psychology outlines how 20 minutes of reading per day increases vocabulary, comprehension, and overall proficiency. This time can be modified by age: children aged 3-5 can aim for 10-15 minutes, children 6-8 for 15-20 minutes, and children 9-12 for 20-30 minutes.
Make Learning Engaging
To keep your child interested, select books and activities that align with their developmental stage and interests. If they are pre-readers, choose fun, rhyming books that you can enjoy together. For beginners, decodable books that match their reading level can be both fun and educational. Find out about free online decodable books here. Advanced readers might enjoy platforms like Epic! Books, which offer a variety of audiobooks, “read to me” books, and other genres that cater to their interests.
Adding extension activities to any book can make the reading experience more engaging. For example, create a word or picture hunt related to the story. For younger children, you can preview the book and select a word or image for them to find as you read together. For older kids, offer clues like, “The word is an adjective that starts with a ‘w’,” and let them hunt for it during the reading.
Use Rewards and Incentives
If your child struggles with focus or motivation, consider using rewards or incentives to encourage them. Choose an activity they enjoy but don’t often get to do, such as painting or playing a game, and use it as a reward for completing their reading or learning schedule. After they’ve finished their study session, they can engage in their chosen activity for as long as you deem appropriate. You can also implement a reward system. For every book finished, they can get a coupon. With enough coupons, they can purchase something from your “story” or simply the dollar-store.
Stick to a Routine That Works for Your Child
To establish a reading or learning schedule that sticks, it must be tailored to your child’s age, developmental needs, and daily schedule. Ensure that activities are engaging to capture their attention, and don’t hesitate to use incentives when needed to keep them motivated. By incorporating these elements, you’ll create a balanced schedule that supports your child’s learning journey.
