The Importance of Reading with Your Child
Reading to your child at a young age is one of the best gifts you can give your son or daughter. Not only has early reading shown to help kids in school academically, it provides a wonderful opportunity for you and your child to be together. It is a great way to slow down your busy day and connect. Research has shown how reading can support a solid parent-child relationship. Kids feel secure when they’re read to. By reading to your child, your child will see that reading is actually fun! Reading to your child helps to build and improve their listening skills, increase their imagination and make reading a pleasurable activity. It encourages them to become a reader themselves as they mature.
When should you start reading
Start today! Babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and even older children all benefit from having a caregiver read to them. Try to develop a daily routine of reading at least 15 minutes a day. By reading with your child, you foster a love of books and reading right from the start.
As soon as your baby is born, he or she starts learning. Just by talking to, playing with, and caring for your baby every day, you help your baby develop language skills necessary to become a reader. Cuddle with your baby while you read. They will love the sound of your voice reading to them. Babies may just want to put the book in their mouth, but that’s okay! When you let your child explore books in the ways that interest him, they are still experiencing books and learning.
Young children can only sit for a few minutes for a story, but as they grow, they will be able to sit longer. Let your child help decide how much time you spend reading. Don’t worry if you don’t finish the story and read every page. Your child may have a favorite page or even a favorite picture that she may want to spend time on before reading a different book. Keeping the attention of a toddler and young child can be a challenge! Even if they are wandering around the room while you are reading, they are listening. Overtime their listening skills will improve. So keep reading!
Reading to Babies:
-The youngest babies (under 6 months old) benefit from books that have simple but bold or bright images with lots of contrast. Talk to your baby as you look at the books, but words on the page aren’t necessary. And remember, even if your baby wants to simply put the book in their mouth, this is normal. Let them experience the book. When you hold your baby close and look at a book together, your baby will enjoy being with you and hearing your voice. Feeling safe and secure with you while looking at a book builds your baby’s love of reading.
-As they get a bit older (7 to 12 months), you may want to expand your collection to books with simple phrases or just a line of text that relates to the picture on the page. As your baby starts to babble and gain words, try involving them in what they see on the page. Encourage their coos and gurgles. This is your baby’s way of communicating with you. These are important first steps toward speech. Encourage attempts to mimic you. The more your baby practices making sounds, the clearer they will become.
-Babies ages 12 to 18 months may find books with pictures of other children doing everyday things interesting. They like to look at animals, characters, and familiar scenes in their books. Keep your child engaged while reading a book by asking “What’s that?” and trying to get them to repeat things you are pointing out on the pages. They also love saying animal sounds like “moo” and “woof” when they see pictures of animals. Reading nursery rhymes and books that have songs in them can also be fun activities with this age group.
Keep books where your baby can easily reach them. Books made of cloth, soft plastic and board books are great choices for infants and toddlers.
Reading to Toddlers:
Kids between the ages of 19 and 30 months are starting to talk more and discover the world around them. Reading is a huge part of their learning and discovery. Toddlers need to move, so don’t worry if they won’t sit long for a story. They may act out stories, jump or tumble as you read to them. They may be moving, but they are listening.
Toddlers often like books with lots of action, pictures, details and repetition. Look for books that contain short stories, books that rhyme or sing. They will often fill in the blank with books that repeat if you pause at the right spot for them. Books with flaps, different textures and hidden pictures are always a hit with toddlers. They can start to advance from board books to paper pages, but may need supervision to prevent ripping pages.
Reading to Preschoolers:
The ages between 3 to 5 are a very important time for developing growth in their basic reading skills. They are starting to learn numbers and letters. Many Preschoolers can tell you their favorite book and will sit and turn the pages of a book. They can tell you about a story in their book and can predict what might happen next in the story. They are a developing a very creative imagination!
One of the best ways to continue to instill a love a reading with your preschooler is to simply sit with them and read every day, building their vocabulary. Read to your child with a fun voice and help stories come alive. Use humor and expression. They still love repetition at this age. Go ahead and read their favorite book often!
Reading to Elementary Age:
Now that they are in school, they will continue to be exposed to books, reading and writing. At home, model your love for reading and reading with your child. Have your child read to you. Make reading books special! Take your kids to the library, help them get their own library card, read with them, and buy them books as gifts. They may enjoy finding a good book series. Expose them to different types of books, fiction and non-fiction. Talk about what they are reading and ask them questions. Even if your child doesn’t read as much as you would like them to, as a parent you can help them to find books that you think they will enjoy reading, such as books about animals, space, or dinosaurs.
Helpful Tips:
READ! READ! READ!
Infancy is a great time to start reading, but it is never too late to sit down with your child to read.
Enjoy your time together. Make it fun! Be creative and use humor and different voices when reading.
Keep books in easy to find spots around the house. Keep them in the car, in a purse, and diaper bag.
As your child gets older, point out connections in the story, ask questions to see what they think might happen next.
Visit your library often! The library is a great place to check out books on subjects your child may be interested in. They may also enjoy listening to audio books.
Be consistent and have your reading routine. Kids love reading before naps and bed time. This can help soothe a child into sleep. Whether it’s one book per day or 10, try to make reading a part of your regular routine. Talk about how you look forward to reading together. Your child will love this special time.
The more that books are woven into children’s everyday lives, the more likely they will be to see reading as a pleasure and a gift.
Watch for our Little Free Library coming to our parking lot this month! Grab a book on your way in or out of the office and bring a book to share if you are done with it at home.