Shared Reading Between Parents and Children to Improve German Language Skills

Shared Reading: A Bridge to Learning German and Strengthening Family Bonds

Why is shared reading so important?
Reading with children is not just a leisure activity, but a powerful educational tool that helps to:

expand the child’s vocabulary in German
improve listening comprehension and pronunciation
develop imagination and critical thinking
strengthen the emotional bond between the child and their parents

Benefits of shared reading for children with a migrant background

Language aspect	Benefit
Pronunciation	The child learns the correct pronunciation of German words.
Vocabulary	The child learns new words in real-life contexts.
Listening comprehension	The child develops the ability to understand spoken sentences and stories.
Grammar	The child picks up sentence structure and the use of pronouns and singular/plural naturally.

How to read with your child effectively
1. Choose a book suitable for the child’s age and language level

For younger children: picture books, books with short and simple sentences.
For older children: short stories with everyday vocabulary, and interactive books.

2. Use a dialogue style
Don’t just read—ask simple questions during the story:

“What do you think will happen now?”
“Do you know what this word means?”
“Do you like this animal? Why?”

3. Read with expression and movement
Use different tones of voice and hand gestures to show emotions or events.
This helps the child connect words with meanings.

4. Repeat the reading more than once
Repetition is very useful for reinforcing vocabulary and structures.

5. Use the mother tongue as support when needed
You can explain difficult words in Arabic, but the reading itself should be in German.

Books and practical tips
Recommended books:

“Erste Geschichten” – for children aged 2–4
“Bilderbuchgeschichten” – for interactive reading
Wimmelbücher – books full of pictures and details to learn vocabulary
“Mein erstes Wörterbuch” series – a simple picture dictionary

Where to find books:

City libraries (Stadtbibliothek): free borrowing
Family centers (Familienzentren) often provide children’s books
Websites such as: www.antolin.de or www.onilo.de (for digital reading)

Golden tips for parents:

Set aside 10–15 minutes daily to read with your child
Praise the child when they repeat new words or try to understand
Share your feelings about the story: “I love this story!”
Make reading a fun daily habit, not a school obligation

ـ* The team of writers and editors at the website is keen to provide accurate information through intensive research and reviewing multiple sources when writing articles. However, some errors may appear or unconfirmed information may be included. Therefore, the information in the articles should be considered an initial reference, and you should always consult the competent authorities to obtain confirmed information.