One of the most important things parents can teach their children is to love to read and write. Parents can share reading and writing experiences with their children so they can discover the benefits of these skills.

With your help, your children will discover the joys and benefits of reading: new worlds, new ideas, fun and entertainment.

How can I help my children to read?

- Show your children how much you enjoy reading. If they see you reading newspapers, magazines or books, they will imitate your behavior.

- Make a special place to read. It should be quiet and away from the TV.

- Visit the library regularly.

- Let your children choose their own books.

- Ask another member of the family to read if you do not have the time or do not know how to read well: an older sibling, a grandparent, an aunt, an uncle, etc.

- Make up your own books.

- Read in the language with which you're most comfortable. Reading will create a common bond between you and your children.

- Read to your children for entertainment and fun. Children should not be forced to read.

- Write notes to your children and read them together.

What is the best way to read with my children?

- Be together and close to each other: in your lap or next to you. Reading time should be a caring and loving time. Let the children control the activity. They should be allowed to turn pages, interrupt the reader, ask questions and ask to read it again.

- Ask the children to name different things in the book. Ask questions about the content of the book. Teachers do this at school. If the children get used to it now, they will learn more and do better in school.

- Answer all their questions. If you do not know the answer, be honest. Try to find the answers with the children, or tell them you will find out later. Children ask questions because they are interested—the more questions they have, the more they will learn.

- Relate some aspect of the book to the children's everyday life. Children need to make connections with their own life in order to keep their love of reading

Ref. Ana U. Colomb, Cynthia Reyes, Flora V. Rodriguez-Brown and Melanie Schikore  at the University of Illinois at Chicago