Parent Training Tips for Pre-K & Kindergarten

by | Jul 7, 2025 | Blog | 0 comments

Welcome, parents! 

At Reading Ranch, we know that developing your child’s early literacy and language skills is crucial, and you are the best partner in this exciting journey. Don’t worry — helping your child learn to read and love language doesn’t have to be intimidating. With a few simple strategies, you can turn everyday book time into an interactive adventure that nurtures your little one’s love of words.

Why Interactive Reading Matters

Interactive reading is more than just reading aloud. It’s a way of making stories come to life, engaging your child’s attention, and encouraging them to explore the book with you. It involves asking questions, making predictions, and pointing out interesting parts of the text. Doing this boosts comprehension, enhances vocabulary, and makes reading a memorable, fun experience.

Our Approach to Parent Training

At Reading Ranch, we empower parents with practical strategies for making reading fun, engaging, and educational. By guiding you through simple yet effective techniques, we help you foster your child’s literacy skills while strengthening your bond during every reading session. 

Step One: Setting the Scene

1. Choose the Right Books: Pick books your child loves and can easily understand. Reread favorites often, as repetition helps kids recognize words and understand the story better.

2. Get Cozy: Sit close together. Have your child on your lap or right next to you. When they feel secure and connected, they’ll be more engaged in the story. Make sure the book is easy for both of you to see, and encourage your child to hold it or turn the pages when they’re ready.

Step Two: Make Reading Interactive

1. Point and Track: Use your finger to follow the words as you read. This simple action helps your child connect spoken words with printed text. 

Here’s how to use print referencing:

• Ask questions about print: “Do you see this letter? What sound does it make?”
• Make comments about print: “This is the letter B. B says ‘buh’!”
• Make requests about print: “Show me a capital letter,” or “Can you find a period?”

2. Promote Word Awareness: Help your child recognize that words are made of letters and separated by spaces. Ask them:

• “Where is the first word on this page?”
• “Can you show me a little word and a big word?”
• “How many words are in this sentence?”

Step Three: Encourage Story Comprehension

1. Ask open-ended questions: Asking the right questions can help deepen your child’s understanding of the content they have read. 

• “What do you think will happen next?”
• “Why did the character do that?”
• “How do you think the character feels?”

 2. Praise their efforts: Celebrate when your child participates, even if their answer is unexpected. Positive reinforcement encourages them to keep learning.

Practicing Together

At our workshop, parents paired up to practice these techniques with guidance from our literacy coach. You can do the same at home. Use your observation checklist to track your child’s progress. Remember, this isn’t about perfection — it’s about celebrating each little victory, whether identifying a letter or making a fun prediction about the story.

Bringing It All Together

Early literacy is about more than just learning letters and sounds. It’s about building a love of reading, creating meaningful connections, and setting a foundation for future success. With these tools and techniques, you can make reading an adventure your child will look forward to every day.

Happy reading, and remember: You’re making a world of difference, one story at a time!