My child refuses to read aloud. How do I know if he needs help?

 

Some children do  not like to read aloud because they lack confidence in their reading skills. Sometimes children are worried that they will make a mistake and look foolish in front of others, and this trait may be is especially true of children have perfectionist tendencies.  than pushing your son to read aloud, give him time and privacy to read on his own. You might suggest that he try reading aloud to another audience that will not judge or correct his reading, such as a younger sibling, stuffed animal, or pet. Reading to non-adult figures might take some of the pressure off of your son to read each word correctly, and reading aloud might help to build his confidence. 

Jennie Ito, Ph.D.

Child Development Expert

Jennie Ito is a mother of two and a child development consultant who specializes in children’s play and toys. Before becoming a consultant for LeapFrog, she was an intern at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and later worked as a content expert for the Association of Children’s Museum’s “Playing for Keeps” Play Initiative. Jennie earned her doctorate degree in developmental psychology at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.