When kids learn to read, they get excited and want to practice. Now your child is reading, she will probably ask you to listen to her. How you do this can affect your child's motivation to read and her progress.

Here's what you can do at home.

• Get the right books for your reader- books with pictures, a few sentences on each page, repetitive words/phrases and predictable stories..
• Be a good listener. Don't interrupt your child to correct her or use teaching techniques such as sounding out words. Just have fun, laugh and enjoy the story..
• Encourage your child to use picture clues and her memory to tell the story.
• If your child stumbles over a word, simply tell her what it is.
• Give lots of praise and encouragement. Say, "Wow! Listen to you read."
• Avoid criticism. If your child get frustrated or fears she's failing, she can lose her confidence.

Source: Nancy L. Roser, Helping Your Child Become a Reader,ISBN; 0-87207-161-8 (ERIC Clearinghouse on Reading and Communication Skills, 1-800-538-3742, www.eric.ed.gov).

Plan fun activities, spend quality time with your child this summer:

With gas prices being what they are, this summer, plan to spend some quality time with your child close by and keep his brain working , too. Sit down with your child and make a list of all the fun possibilities that are before you this summer. Ask yourself:

• Are there places in our town we've never visited but would like to?
• Are there free concerts or plays nearby? When are they scheduled?
• What summer activities would we like to try? Are there things I could do with my child, such as riding a bike or learning a new sport?
• What are my child's interests? What could we do to explore those interests?
• Is a class available that interests my child? Whether he wants to learn how to make a video or learn how to pitch a baseball, there may be a class on that subject.

Once you have your list, narrow it down with your child. Choose three things you both want to do this summer. Then make a plan so you can get them done before school starts in the fall.

Source: Ron Fairchild and others, How Did You Spend Your Summer Vacation? What Public Policies Do (And Don't) To Support Summer Learning Opportunities for All Youth,Spring 2007 (Robert Bowne Foundation, 212-658-5878, www.summerlearning.org).