Reading to your Child

Introduction
When parents help their children lean to read, they help
open the door to a new world. As a parent, you can begin an
endless learning chain: You read to your children, they develop
a love of stories and poems, they want to read on their own,
they practice reading, and finally they read for their own
information or pleasure. They become readers, and their world
is forever expanded and enriched.
During the early years you can lay
the foundation for your child to become a lifelong reader. This blog aims to help you
* read with your child and make this all-important time
together enjoyable;
* stimulate your child's interest in reading and language;
and
* learn about your child's school reading programs and find
ways to help.
You don't need to be an especially skillful reader
yourself to help your child. In fact, some public libraries
offer adult literacy programs that involve reading to children
as a way to improve literacy skills for the whole family. Nor
do you have to devote great amounts of time to reading with
your child. It's the quality of time that counts. Just be
consistent--give as much time as you can each day to help your
child. The activities suggested are designed to fit into busy
schedules.
Helping your child become a reader is an adventure you
will not want to miss. The benefits to your child are
immeasurable, and in the process you will find your world
becoming richer as well.
The Basics
There is no more important activity for preparing your
child to succeed as a reader than reading aloud together. Fill
your story times with a variety of books. Be consistent, be
patient, and watch the magic work.
Start Young and Stay with It
At just a few months of age, an infant can look at
pictures, listen to your voice, and point to objects on
cardboard pages. Guide your child by pointing to the pictures,
and say the names of the various objects. By drawing attention
to pictures and associating the words with both pictures and
the real-world objects, your child will learn the importance of
language.
Children learn to love the sound of language before they
even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading
books aloud to children stimulates their imagination and
expands their understanding of the world. It helps them develop
language and listening skills and prepares them to understand
the written word. When the rhythm and melody of language become
a part of a child's life, learning to read will be as natural
as learning to walk and talk.
Even after children lean to read by themselves, it's still
important for you to read aloud together. By reading stories
that are on their interest level, but beyond their reading
level, you can stretch young readers' understanding and
motivate them to improve their skills.
Advertise the Joy of Reading!
Our goal is to motivate children to want to read so they
will practice reading independently and, thus, become fluent
readers. That happens when children enjoy reading. We parents
can do for reading what fast food chains do for hamburgers...
ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading great stories and poems
to children.
We can help our children find the tools they need to
succeed in life. Having access to information through the
printed word is an absolute necessity. Knowledge is power, and
books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical
tool. Through books we can enrich our minds; we can also relax
and enjoy some precious leisure moments.
With your help, your children can begin a lifelong
relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults
who read easily and frequently whether for business, knowledge,
or pleasure.
Remember When You Were Very Young
Between the ages of 4 and 7, many children begin to
recognize words on a page. In our society this may begin with
recognition of a logo for a fast food chain or the brand name
of a favorite cereal. But, before long, that special moment
when a child holds a book and starts to decode the mystery of
written words is likely to occur.
You can help remove part of the mystery without worrying
about a lot of theory. Just read the stories and poems and let
them work their wonders. There is no better way to prepare your
child for that moment when reading starts to "click," even if
it's years down the road.
It will help, however, if we open our eyes to some things
adult readers tend to take for granted. It's easier to be
patient when we remember how much children do not know. Here
are a few concepts we adults know so well we forget sometimes
we ever learned them.
* There's a difference between words and pictures. Point to
the print as you read aloud.
* Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to
read.
* Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with
your finger as you read.
* Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated
by a space.
* Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital
letters and one for small letters.
These are examples of hieroglyphics.
Imagine how you would feel if you were trying to interpret
a book full of such symbols. That's how young readers feel.
But, a little patience (maybe by turning it into a puzzle you
can solve together) is certain to build confidence.
Home Is Where the Heart Is
It's no secret that activities at home are an important
supplement to the classroom, but there's more to it than that.
There are things that parents can give children at home that
the classrooms cannot give.
Children who are read to grow to love books. Over the
years, these children will have good memories to treasure. They
remember stories that made them laugh and stories that made
them cry. They remember sharing these times with someone they
love, and they anticipate with joy the time when they will be
able to read for themselves.
By reading aloud together, by being examples, and by doing
other activities, parents are in a unique position to help
children enjoy reading and see the value of it.
Important Things To Know
It is important to keep fun in your parent-child reading
and to let joy set the tone and pace. Here is a story to keep
in mind.
Shamu is a performing whale, to the delight of many.
However, she sometimes gets distracted and refuses to do her
tricks. When that happens, her trainers stand around in
dripping wetsuits and wait for her stubbornness to pass. They
know that when a 5,000-pound whale decides she doesn't want to
flip her tail on cue, there is very little anyone can do about
it. But whales like to play, and sooner or later Shamu returns
to the game of performing for her audience. Shamu's trainers
know this so they're always patient, they're always confident,
and they always make performing fun.
While helping your child become a reader is certainly
different from training a whale, the same qualities of
patience, confidence, and playfulness in your approach will get
results. If, from time to time, your child gets distracted and
loses interest, take a break. Children love to learn. Give them
a little breathing room, and their interest will always be
renewed.
It's Part of Life
Although the life of a parent is often hectic, you should
try to read with your child at least once a day at a regularly
scheduled time. But don't be discouraged if you skip a day or
don't always keep to your schedule. Just read to your child as
often as you possibly can.
If you have more than one child, try to spend some time
reading alone with each child, especially if they're more than
2 years apart. However, it's also fine to read to children at
different stages and ages at the same time. Most children enjoy
listening to many types of stories. When stories are complex,
children can still get the idea and can be encouraged to ask
questions. When stories are easy or familiar, youngsters enjoy
these "old friends" and may even help in the reading. Taking
the time to read with your children on a regular basis sends an
important message: Reading is worthwhile.
One More Time
You may go through a period when your child favors one
book and wants it read night after night. It is not unusual for
children to favor a particular story, and this can be boring
for parents. Keep in mind, however, that a favorite story may
speak to your child's interests or emotional needs. Be patient.
Continue to expose your children to a wealth of books and
eventually they will be ready for more stories.
Talking about Stories
It's often a good idea to talk about a story you are
reading, but you need not feel compelled to talk about every
story. Good stories will encourage a love for reading, with or
without conversation. And sometimes children need time to think
about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be
surprised if your child mentions something from a story you've
read together.
The More the Merrier
From time to time, invite other adults or older children
to listen in or join in reading aloud. The message is: Reading
is for everybody.
How Do I Use This Book?
There are two types of activities in this book to help
* make reading with your child enjoyable and
* increase writing, talking, and listening to boost your
child's love of language.
Most of the activities are for children who range in age
from 3 to 10 years, with a few for babies. The symbols next to
the activities can guide you.
Infant up to 2 years
Preschooler (ages 3-5)
Beginning reader (ages 6-7)
Developing reader (ages 8-10)
Enjoyment is essential in the process of helping your
child become a reader. All of the activities are written with
this thought in mind. So, if you and your child don't enjoy one
activity, move on to something else and try it again later.
Read Along
The following is intended to help you become a parent who
is great at reading with your child. You'll find ideas and
activities to enrich this precious time together.
Children become readers when their parents read to them.
It really is as simple as that. And here's the good news: It's
easy to do and it's great fun. With a little practice you will
be making the memories of a lifetime, memories both you and
your child will cherish.
It is best to read to your child early and often. But it's
never too late to begin. Start today. Although the activities
in this section are designed to enhance reading aloud with
preschoolers and beginning readers, a child is never too old to
be read to.
With youngsters, remember that reading is a physical act,
as well as a mental one. It involves hand-eye coordination. So,
when you read, involve your child by
* pointing out objects in the pictures;
* following the words with your finger (so your child
develops a sense that the words go from left to fight on
the page); and
* having your child help turn the pages (to lean that the
pages turn from fight to left).
Look for Books
The main thing is to find books you both love. They will
shape your child's first impression of the world of reading.
What to do
1. Ask friends, neighbors, and teachers to share the names of
their favorite books.
2. Visit your local public library, and as early as possible,
get your child a library card. Ask the librarian for help
in selecting books. (Also see the resources section at the
end of this book.)
3. Look for award-winning books. Each year the American
Library Association selects children's books for the
Caldecott Medal for illustration and the Newbery Medal for
writing.
4. Check the book review sections of newspapers and magazines
for recommended new children's books.
5. As soon as they're old enough, have your children join you
in browsing for books and making selections.
6. If you and your child don't enjoy reading a particular
book, put it aside and pick up another one.
Keep in mind your child's reading level and listening
level are different. When you read easy books, beginning
readers will soon be reading along with you. When you read more
advanced books, you instill a love of stories, and you build
motivation that transforms children into lifelong readers.
Books and Babies
Babies love to listen to the human voice. What better way
than through reading!
What you'll need
Some baby books (books made of cardboard or cloth with flaps to
lift and holes to peek through)
What to do
1. Start out by singing lullabies and folk songs to your
baby. At around 6 months, look for books with brightly
colored, simple pictures and lots of rhythm. (Mother Goose
is perfect.) At around 9 months, include books that
feature pictures and names of familiar objects.
2. As you read, point out objects in the pictures and make
sure your baby sees all the things that are fun to do with
books. (Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt is a classic
touch-and-feel book for babies.)
3. Vary the tone of your voice, sing nursery rhymes, bounce
your knee, make funny faces, do whatever special effects
you can to stimulate your baby's interest.
4. Allow your child to touch and hold cloth and sturdy
cardboard books.
5. When reading to a baby, be brief but read often.
As you read to your baby, your child is forming an
association between books and what is most loved -- your voice
and closeness. Allowing babies to handle books deepens their
attachment even more.
R and R: Repetition and Rhyme
Repetition makes books predictable, and young readers love
knowing what comes next.
What you'll need
Books with repeated phrases*
Short rhyming poems
* A few favorites are: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible.
No Good , Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst; Brown Bear, Brown
Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.; Horton Hatches
the Egg by Dr. Seuss; and The Little Engine That Could by
Watty Piper. There are many good booklists that highlight
those books with repetitive refrains. (See the resources
section.)
What to do
1. Pick a story with repeated phrases or a poem you and your
child like.
2. For example, read:
Wolf Voice: Little pig, little pig,
Let me come in.
Little Pig: Not by the hair on my
chinny-chin-chin.
Wolf Voice: Then I'll huff and I'll puff,
And I'll blow your house in!
After the wolf has blown down the first pig's house, your
child will soon join in with the refrain.
3. Read slowly, and with a smile or a nod, let your children
know you appreciate their participation.
4. As children grow more familiar with the story, pause and
give them the chance to "fill in the blanks."
5. Encourage your children to pretend to read, especially
books that contain repetition and rhyme. Most children who
enjoy reading will eventually memorize all or parts of a
book and imitate your reading.
When youngsters anticipate what's coming next in a story
or poem, they have a sense of mastery over books. When children
feel power, they have the courage to try. Pretending to read is
an important step in the process of learning to read.
Poetry in Motion
When children act out a good poem, they love its rhyme,
rhythm, and the pictures it paints with a few well-chosen
words. They grow as readers by connecting emotion with the
written word.
What you'll need
Poems that rhyme, tell a story, and are written from a child's
point of view
What to do
1. Read a poem slowly to your child, and bring all your
dramatic talents to the reading. (In other words, ham it
up.)
2. If there is a poem your child is particularly fond of,
suggest acting out a favorite line. Be sure to award such
efforts with delighted enthusiasm.
3. Then suggest acting out a verse, a stanza, or the entire
poem. Ask your child to make a face of the way the
character in the poem is feeling. Remember that facial
expressions bring emotion into the performer's voice.
4. Again, be an enthusiastic audience for your child.
Applause is always nice.
5. If your child is comfortable with the idea, look for a
larger setting with an attentive, appreciative audience.
Perhaps an after-dinner "recital" for family members would
appeal to your child.
6. Mistakes are a fact of life, so ignore them.
Poems are often short with lots of white space on the
page. This makes them manageable for new readers and helps to
build their confidence.
Read to Me
It's important to read to your children, but equally
important to listen to them read to you. Children thrive on
having someone appreciate their developing skills.
What you'll need
Books at your child's reading level
What to do
1. Listen attentively as your child reads.
2. Take turns. You read a paragraph and have your child read
the next one. As your child becomes more at ease with
reading aloud, take turns reading a full page. Keep in
mind that your child may be focusing on how to read, and
your reading helps to keep the story alive.
3. If your children have trouble reading words, you can help
in several ways.
* Tell them to skip over the word, read the rest of the
sentence, and ask what word would make sense in the story.
* Help them use what they know about letters and sounds.
* Supply the correct word.
4. Tell children how proud you are of their efforts and
skills.
Listening to your children read aloud provides
opportunities for you to express appreciation of their new
skills and for them to practice their reading. Most
importantly, it's another way to enjoy reading together.
Family Reading Time
A quiet time for family members to read on their own may
be the only chance a busy parent gets to read the paper.
What you'll need
Your own reading materials
Reading materials for your children
What to do
1. Both you and your child should pick out something to read.
2. Don't be concerned if your beginning readers pick
materials that are easier than their school reading books.
Practice with easy books (and the comics) will improve
their fluency.
3. If you subscribe to a children's magazine, this is a good
time to get it out. There are many good children's
magazines, and youngsters often get a special thrill out
of receiving their own mail.
4. Relax and enjoy while you each read your own selections.
A family reading time shows that you like to read. Because
you value reading, your children will too.
Story Talk
Talking about what you read is another way to help
children develop language and thinking skills. You don't need
to plan the talk, discuss every story, or expect an answer.
What you'll need
Reading materials
What to do
1. Read slowly and pause occasionally to think out loud about
a story. You can speculate: "I wonder what's going to
happen next!" Or ask a question: "Do you know what a
palace is?" Or point out: "Look where the little mouse is
now."
2. Answer your children's questions, and if you think they
don't understand something, stop and ask them. Don't worry
if you break into the flow of a story to make something
clear.
3. Read the name of the book's author and illustrator and
make sure your children understand what they do.
Talking about stories they read helps children develop
their vocabularies, link stories to everyday life, and use what
they know about the world to make sense out of stories.