Readers of every age can work on building their reading stamina, setting themselves up to read longer, more complex texts. Here are some top tips:
1 - Vary the way reading is done.
Children can read to someone, read to themselves and listen to reading.
2 - Find books that are Just Right.
This means that they are a suitable level (not too difficult; not too easy), or that they are of high interest. Don’t forget that each child can borrow 5 books at a time from the school library, which has a huge selection of suitable books.
3 - Be ambitious and realistic.
The time that children can sit and focus for varies depending on their age. At Early Learning levels, try reading shorter books with your child of only a few minutes. From Kindergarten, try starting with 5 minutes of reading together, and add a couple of minutes every few weeks. This time should increase as we go up the grade levels, so that by Grade 5, children are able to read independently for extended periods of time.
4 - Limit distractions.
Turn off electronic devices (both parents and children) for the time you are reading so that the focus is solely on the books. Enjoy books with your child.
5 - Celebrate reading stamina.
Celebrate the time spent reading, and the enjoyment gained from reading.