Does your preschooler pretend to read? Pretend reading provides practice with storytelling and with the mechanics of books and print. At home, engage your child in preschool activities that will strengthen these early skills as she is learning to read. Read to your child daily, and keep a collection of books easily accessible to her. Teach her to hold books correctly, to read from left to right, and to turn pages one at a time. Practice story retelling by having her tell or reenact her favorite scenes from books, having her "read" the pictures, or by letting her fill in the blanks while you read. Also, it's important to offer encouragement and positive reinforcement whenever you see her with a book.