Help your kids crack the reading code

Something happened to me recently that bowled me over.

A few days into the new year, I went in to check whether my seven-year-old was in bed. There she was, snuggled under the covers, reading to her little sister. But for the first time, she wasn't just making up the story based on the pictures. She was reading Dr. Seuss word for word.

Since then my daughter is finding meaning everywhere; street signs, newspaper headlines. She'll even peer over my shoulder while I type and say, "Mom, isn’t there a better word for that?"

Learning to read is a miracle — and when you're young, you can never get enough practice. There are many fun, educational resources available online to help kids with their skills. Click the mouse to find pages and pages of stories or kids' sites and software that enrich the literacy experience.

I'm thinking it won't be too long before my daughter will be going online to reserve her own library books. Or even — dare I say it — not just suggesting, but actually editing what I write!
Happy reading!

— Mara Gulens, Senior Editor Microsoft Home Magazine