Apps and tips that help kids learn to read

by Melissa Brodsky

Most kids aren’t born with a natural love for books and reading. It’s something that parents have to instill and nurture. It’s not always a simple task, getting your child to enjoy reading. We have some tips that might help the process go smoother:

• Choose age appropriate books about things your kids show an interest in like dance or fishing.
• Leave reading materials scattered (neatly) around the house. A stack of books on the living room table, a magazine basket in the bathroom.
• If your kids see you reading during your free time, they’ll likely pick up that habit too.
• There is nothing wrong with rewards/bribery for every book your child completes! It gives them incentive to complete a book and it forms a reading habit.
• Set aside time during the day or evening for reading. Many schools encourage 20 minutes of reading nightly.
• Let your child choose what book they want to read (or be read), otherwise reading becomes a chore.

Games that encourage reading

• Speedeebee by Blue Orange is a Parents Choice recommended family game for ages 8+.
• MadLibs
• Hasbros Trivial Pursuit 
• Hasbros Scrabble

Apps that aid in reading

Bob Books for iPhone and iPad is $1.99. Bob Books has helps millions of kids learn to read and is now an interactive app.

Super Why on iOS for $3.99 or Android for $2.99 has four interactive literacy games to help kids to read along with their beloved friends from the PBS show Super Why.

Storypatch encourages storytelling by allowing children to create their own picture books. Available on iTunes for $2.99.

Reading for Details is available on iTunes and Android.  This app will help build reading comprehension, and important part of the reading process. These apps are a little more costly but effective.

Phonics Easy Reader 2 HD is $1.99 on iTunes. There are two different options, Read to Me or Read Out Loud.

ABC Pocket Phonics is $2.99 on iTunes teaches the basics of BOTH reading and writing. This app is a Parents Choice award winning app.

Click here to save on Hooked on Phonics with coupons and Cash Back rewards

Click here to get Cash Back on Hasbro games

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About Melissa Brodsky

Melissa Brodsky has been over-sharing her random thoughts over on Rock and Drool since 2005. She recently Co-Founded a full service social media agency called Smart Savvy Social, located in the Metro-Detroit area. When Melissa isn't cleaning up after her 5 kids, 1 husband, 6 cats, 2 dogs and various other household pests, she can be found obsessively twittering as @rockdrool.or status updating over on Facebook. Follow her on Pinterest and Google+.