Motivate the reader he is about to become. Help him develop a passion for books and stories now and you will motivate him to become a life-long reader. Choose great stories to read aloud. Have a chat with the children's librarian at your local library. She'll be able to help you select books that speak to the heart and soul of your child.
Children love rhythm and rhyme.
Sing, recite nonsense poems, create silly words. You'll help hone her listening skills for discerning the differences between similar words also important for reading. Stay committed to making the process of learning to read pleasurable, exciting, and pressure-free. Keep in mind that as with learning how to talk, children begin to understand written letters at different rates. The key is to get your child excited by the written word so that reading becomes a natural extension of her own curiosity and an enjoyable pastime.