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Daily Living Skills – Reading

Disability and Functional Skills

Feb 5, 2007 Lynn Moore

As I review books that are struggling reader-friendly the next few weeks, I also want to look at other ways that reading skills can be promoted.

The child with a disability should develop a variety of reading strategies for success with daily living skills. The following are some types of functional reading that can give immediate reward. (I look for the information; I read it; I am rewarded for my reading efforts.)

Newspaper

Have your child find the following sections: weather, cartoons, pet ads, and ads for fast food deals.

Phone Book

Need a phone number? Ask your child to find the phone or address of an individual or a business. Explain the difference between the white pages and the yellow pages. Talk about alphabetical order.

Recipes

Try simple recipes from powdered drink mixes, instant desserts, cake or brownie mixes, and frozen food packages.

Movie Times

Have your child find the times of a desired movie. This skill can be practiced at the theater, with a newspaper, or on the internet.

Friendly Notes

Leave a note that explains the activities of the evening or something that you need your child to do (fold the towels, feed the cat, etc.). Let your child write a note to a grandparent or other relative.

Simple List of Directions

Try easy craft pages with 3-4 steps to read. If you do not have appropriate or interesting materials available, create the steps yourself.

Magazines

This reading source is usually high interest with lots of related pictures.

Play a Board Game

Although the directions for most games are tricky to read, the cards used in many games offer ready-made reading practice.

Have a Treasure Hunt with Written Clues

Make the treasure desirable but not too elaborate. On the next round let your child, write the clues.

Are you looking for more ideas about how to encourage your child to read?

Look at the books recently reviewed:

The copyright of the article Daily Living Skills – Reading in Special Needs Parenting is owned by Lynn Moore. Permission to republish Daily Living Skills – Reading in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.