There are many good reasons why parents should read to their children and encourage a love of books, and words, and reading from a young age. Children with literacy problems are more likely to drop out of school, commit crime and endure a life in poverty.
Children who struggle with reading in the early years of school rarely catch-up with the kids who are fluent readers from an early age.
I have two young daughters and for the past 10 years I have read to them at bedtime. But I don't do it to prevent them from becoming car thieves or to stop them from being bottom of their class-- I do it because it's fun. We share great stories and it's a pleasure for all of us.
Here are some tips about how to read aloud to your children.
1. Begin reading to them from at least six months old. Use those thick board books so they can get used to handling books -- some people read to 'em while they're still in the womb.
2. Do it regularly -- reading must become routine. It's have a bath, brush their teeth, listen to a good book.
3. Turn off the TV. Turn off the computer games. Turn off the Ipod. Turn off the radio. If I'm reading, then they're listening and there will be no distractions.
4. Put some effort into your reading -- you don't have to do funny voices but a monotonous drone can put a young listener to sleep.
5. Stop and explain new words being heard for the first time -- and encourage your child to ask when they hear something they don't understand.
6. With chapter books, have a quick discussion at the end of a chapter -- you can start by saying something like...well, it looks like Harry and Ron are really in trouble this time?
7. Let your child choose the books -- this is important in developing their own tastes and a feeling of independence. Young children may ask for the same picture book over and over again -- that's fine, they move on....eventually.
8. Don't under-estimate your child's ability to process stories that seems threatening and violent. There's nothing worse than bland bedtime reading.
9. Once my children were learning to read to themselves, our routine changed to include them reading something to me before I read them.
10. For a bit of variety, introduce 'guest' readers -- granny or grand-dad can do it when they come to stay, or an older sister can do it for an evening.
Reading for Children:
Peter Rabbit: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
Green Eggs and Ham: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
The Paper Bag Princess: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
Brer Rabbit: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
The Phantom Tollbooth: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
Jack and the Beanstalk: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
James and the Giant Peach: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
The Borrowers: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
We're Going on a Bear Hunt: www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...
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