Family guide
Learning to read: what comes before letters
Open a picture book and ask your child what they think is happening. Then read a little, look for a rhyme or spot a familiar letter. These ideas are for sharing a story, not testing whether your child should already be reading.
Something to try
Listen for words that rhyme
Say “cat” and “hat” slowly. What sounds alike? Try another pair, make up a silly rhyme or listen for one in a song. If your child prefers the story, go back to the book.
Section 01
Find a familiar letter
Look for the first letter of your child’s name in a book. Talk about its name and the sound it makes in a familiar word. You can explore both without turning it into a list to memorise.
Section 02
Try a short word together
If a written word catches your child’s attention, read it together and point to its letters. Listen to how the sounds join. If they would rather hear you read, carry on with the story.
Section 03
Talk about the story
Pause at a picture and ask what the character did or what might happen next. Your child can answer by talking, pointing or acting it out. Then read on to find out.
Section 04
Share questions with their teacher
If you are concerned, describe what happens when you read together: what your child enjoys, avoids or asks for help with. Bring a specific example to the conversation rather than drawing a conclusion from one answer.
Frequently asked questions
Can we share books before my child can read?
Yes. Read aloud while your child looks at the pictures, points to characters or suggests what might happen next.
Should I teach letter names or letter sounds?
You can talk about both the name of a letter and its sound in a word. If your child is working on letters at school, ask their teacher how to support that work at home.
What if my child does not want a book today?
Let them choose another, look at just one picture or come back later. You can also tell a story aloud or sing a familiar song.
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