If your child has trouble reading, this finding is remarkable. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that when kids with delayed reading skills or learning disabilities were put through a comprehensive remediation program, their brains physically "rewired" themselves, increasing reading comprehension and language skills.

• Look at books with your child. The pictures in children's books help tell the story. As you and your child practice reading simple words and phrases, you're building your own reading skills as well as your child's.
• Recite nursery rhymes or make up your own. Children need to hear the rhyming sounds in words.
• Sing songs. Most songs are really poems set to music, and they can help build reading skills.
• Tell stories from your family, neighborhood or childhood.
• Ask questions that your child can't answer with just a "yes" or "no," such as "Why do you think that dog is barking?" or "What do you see when you look out the window?" Talking with your child is one of the best ways to build language skills.
• Talk about colors and shapes.
• Draw and color pictures and "write" together.
• Remember to make these activities fun!

Tips for Parents

As you discover adventures between the covers of a book, you and your child can discover things about each other as well. And with every turn of the page, your child expands his or her vocabulary, comprehension, reasoning and grammar skills.

To maximize the benefit your child gains from reading:

• Create a "reading ritual" by reading together every day at the same time in a special place.
• Cuddle with your child while reading together so your child will associate reading with a sense of security. Children learn better when they feel safe.
• Use silly voices and sound effects to peak your child's interest.
• Follow along with your finger as you read to show how text moves from left to right. This will help your child connect to the text you are reading.
• Point out the pictures in the book and talk about what you see.
• Children like and need to hear favorite stories over and over. It helps them recognize and remember words and gives them confidence about reading.
• Let your child touch and hold the book. Ask him or her to help you turn the pages.
• Don't push your child to read beyond his or her ability. Choose age-appropriate books and congratulate any progress he or she makes with his or her reading skills.

1. Read with you child. You can't start too early. You can't read too much. Reading to young children nurtures an interest in language, words and communication. For older kids, reading together can be fun and interesting. Consider reading one book together every month aloud. Take turns reading pages, chapters or major sections of the book, As this activity becomes a routine, it will not only help develop your child's reading skills, but will also create a basis for ongoing dialogue and discussion.
2. Read together regularly. Sylvan Learning recommends that parents spend an average of an hour a week- or 10-15 minutes a day- reading with young readers. It establishes reading as a regular, daily habit.
3. Encourage your child to build his or her own library. From stamps to comic books to autographs to baseball cards and stuffed animals, children have always been natural collectors. By encouraging book collecting and the creation of a personal library, you introduce your child to a world of resources. Help your child start his or her own library by including a visit to a local bookstore in your weekly or monthly shopping outings.
4. Search for reading activities on the Internet. There are an abundance of great Web sites that provide reading lists for children. Visit Book Adventure, a free Sylvan-created interactive, reading motivation program that can be found online at www.BookAdventure.com. Students choose their own books from more than 7,000 titles, take short comprehension quizzes and redeem their accumulated points for small prizes. Book Adventure also offers teacher and parent resources and tips to help children develop a lifelong love of reading.
5. Provide different kinds of general interest magazines for your child. Children need to understand that there is more to a news event than the 30-second sound bite they hear on the television. Introduce your child to weekly and monthly general interest magazines. These publications explore news events in much greater detail through words and vivid photographs. Read an article together, and help your child with difficult words or abstract concepts.
6. Visit your local library and introduce your child to the children's librarian. Almost every library has at least one librarian who is very knowledgeable about children's literature. He or she can suggest book titles, guide your child through research projects and keep you informed regarding any special reading events that may be planned at the library or elsewhere in the community.
7. Get a riddle book at the library or bookstore. Children enjoy riddles and jokes that rely on wordplay. Laughing together at clever jokes can make a Saturday trip to soccer or hockey practice more enjoyable and memorable.
8. Create a vocabulary game. Compile a word list, or ask your child's teacher for a word list, and make a daily or weekly vocabulary game on index cards. Whether your child is just learning how to read or is preparing for high school exams, seeing, saying and learning new words is important.
9. Make a book. Encourage your children to write original stories and illustrate them with their own drawings. It's a great way to increase comfort and familiarity with words.
10. Learn new words on the road. Use every new experience to introduce new words to your child. Every journey, trip or vacation, regardless of the distance introduces new ideas and objectives to your child and can expand his or her vocabulary.