Parents often ask us how to help their children read in two languages without overloading them. Our experience in the early grades says regularity matters more than length, and enjoyment matters more than perfection.
Ten minutes, every day
Choose a fixed time: after dinner or before bed. Ten minutes every day does more than one hour at the weekend, because the brain loves short repetition. The two languages can take turns: Arabic on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and English on the other days.
Let your child choose
Children read the books they choose with more enthusiasm, even if they are easy or already read. Picture books, children’s science magazines and fact books about space and animals all count as real reading.
Questions that open a conversation
- What do you think will happen next?
- If you were the hero, what would you do?
- Which new word did you like today?
- Does this remind you of something that happened to you?
Arabic at home
If Arabic is your home language, read together in simple standard Arabic and explain in your own dialect without hesitation. If it is a second language for your family, audio stories and songs are an excellent start, and the Arabic teacher sends a suggested book list for every class at the start of term.
From our library: every pupil borrows two books a week from the school library, one in Arabic and one in English. Ask your child about this week’s two books.
If you notice your child avoiding reading or struggling a lot, book a short meeting with the class teacher: a small shared plan often solves what looks big.
