In our last article we reiterated that the home has a critical role to play in raising literacy levels. Tips were given on how to establish a home-school partnership for improved literacy performance of the nation's children. Today, our focus is on helping parents to empower their children.

First, let's do a literacy checkup.

Here are 12 steps in fostering good reading habits in your child:

On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest, score how you help your child to become a better reader. If you rarely ever help, you should score 1 point, and if you are always helping, give yourself 5 points.

My child sees me everyday getting pleasure and information from reading books, newspapers and magazines.

I read aloud to my child frequently.

I often ask my child to read aloud to me and share stories and descriptions of incidents or things he/she sees.

I encourage my child to join a library.

There is at least one dictionary in our home.

We play word and listening games to develop his/her listening skills.

We go on experiences, and build vocabulary.

I encourage my child to read signs, billboards, and expiry dates on food items, and other print in the environment.

I encourage my child to write notes, lists, and letters and I also leave instructions and messages for him/her in written form.

I buy educational toys and gifts for my child.

We often consult a dictionary, encyclopaedia, Internet or almanac when in doubt about a word or an event.

I reward my child for his or her efforts in reading.

Scoring

✔ 29 and below needs improvement

✔ 30-35 fair

✔ 36-44 good

✔ 45-50 very good

✔ 51-60 excellent

Now that you have a better picture of how well you support your children's literacy endeavours, here are a few suggestions that should help. The summer holiday is an excellent time to give your children some extra attention.

Provide your children with a variety of reading and writing materials.

Read and write to your children and encourage them to do the same to you.

Talk to your children about what they have read and what they have written.

Create opportunities and encourage your children to read and write independently.

Widen your children's experiences by taking them to different places of interest and discussing with them what they like or did not like. Ask questions that require them to use their senses e.g. what they saw, heard and how they felt.

Be aware of your children's achievement and provide con-tinuous support.

Conference with the teachers and other school personnel about your children's progress.

Create and sustain a culture of literacy within the home; allow your children to see the importance of being able to read and write.

Involve your children in local and parish library activities.

Help your children in selecting and viewing with them educational programmes on local and cable television as well as audio and video tape recordings.

Parents, you play a critical role in the education of your children. Help them become better readers and writers. Remember, reading with your children is as important as any other daily activity. We believe that all children can be joyful, independent readers.

Together we can help make this happen. Let us demonstrate our commitment through action.

Contributed by the National Literacy Programme Ministry of Education.