How to Read Online for Kids

Reading at a young age jump starts lifelong learning. By encouraging your child to read, you build a solid foundation for school success and inspire the self-confidence that will help your child thrive throughout the rest of his or her life. Providing your child with a wide range of options keeps reading fun and interesting. Reading online is cheaper than going to a bookstore and faster than going to the library. Best of all, you never have to remember to return the books.

Instructions

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     Log onto an online storybook website, such as MagicKeys Children's Storybooks Online (see Resources). Find a collection of online books suited to your child's age and reading level by clicking on the appropriate category, such as "Young Children" or "Older Children." Scroll through the list of books and select your choice of story.
   • 2
     Read through the story by clicking the "Turn the Page" arrow at the bottom of the page. You may also scroll backwards if you want to read the previous page again.
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     Hear a story read aloud by clicking on the sound button next to the story text. Note that not all stories have a reading aloud function. When you are finished reading the story, click on the "Back to Children's Storybooks Online" link at the bottom of the page.
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     Practice reading online with your child by reading through a few stories together and showing him or her how to navigate the online storybook websites. Your child will become more comfortable with the process and may even want to try navigating by him or herself.
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     Involve all your children in reading online to create fun family activities. Have everyone act out a different character. Ask your children to guess what will happen on the next page, or encourage them to come up with their own creative endings for the story.

     Tips & Warnings

     • Reading from a computer screen can be hard on the eyes. If your child has any vision issues, you may want to ask a doctor before allowing your your child to read online.
     • While reading online is a valuable and educational activity, make sure that you continue to read real books with them. In addition, limit the time your child spends on the computer and encourage him or her to engage in other activities like going outside, playing sports and games and interacting with other kids.