It’s Important…read With Your Child

Our children learn to love the sound of language way before they even notice the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to them stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of the world. It also 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.

You see at just a few months of age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to your voice and point to objects on cardboard pages. It is important that you guide your child by pointing to the pictures and say the names of the various objects at this level. By drawing attention to pictures and associating words with both pictures and real-world objects, your child will learn the importance of language.

Even after children learn 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.

Today, the life of a parent is often hectic but aside from all the hustle, you should try to read with your child at least once a day at a regularly scheduled time. 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, it is important that you 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 and the message is that: Reading is worthwhile.