| "The single most important activity for building the | | | | gradually add more time to your reading aloud. |
| knowledge required for eventual success in | | | | This will help develop your child's attention span. |
| reading is reading aloud to children." This is from | | | | Many children are helped in this area by being |
| the 1985 report of the Commission on Reading. | | | | allowed to draw or use Play-doh or Silly Putty. My |
| Reading is foundational for building a lifetime of | | | | kinesthetic son has drawn some great pictures |
| knowledge. This process begins when children are | | | | during our read aloud times. |
| young and continues as they grow and mature. | | | | - Don't always stop at the end of a chapter. It is |
| When you read aloud to your child you are | | | | better to create some suspense and wonder |
| creating a great opportunity to bond. It is an | | | | leaving everyone to wonder what will happen |
| opportunity to slow down while you read aloud | | | | next. Sometimes you may want to break up the |
| from a great story. A story you can share | | | | time into two readings. I have found setting a |
| together. | | | | schedule to be helpful and also something we all |
| Reading aloud to a child helps that child figure out | | | | look forward to every day. |
| how language is put together. It builds a | | | | - Ask questions while you read. Speculate as to |
| foundation for language use. It also develops | | | | what might happen next. Ask your children for |
| thinking skills which contribute to understanding. It | | | | their feedback and what they think of certain |
| will stimulate a child's imagination and help him to | | | | characters actions. This will help them to become |
| understand logical sequence. | | | | more inquisitive. |
| - Experts agree that starting early has many | | | | - Reading out loud opens up whole new worlds for |
| long-term benefits. When your child is 1 to 2 | | | | your child to explore. Make it adventurous and fun. |
| months old (or even before birth) you can begin | | | | Looking for additional information on maps or |
| reading aloud. You will take the empty framework | | | | letting the children draw a scene they particularly |
| and begin to fill it up with experiences, grand | | | | enjoyed will help give the book a larger context. |
| adventures, and memorable characters without | | | | - Remember to explain words your child may not |
| ever leaving your home. | | | | understand. This will help build his vocabulary which |
| - Poetry is a natural place to start with young | | | | in turn will increase his interest and lower his |
| children. We all remember nursery rhymes from | | | | frustration. |
| our youth. Children are naturally drawn to songs | | | | - Continue read aloud times long after your child |
| or poems that have a meter or rhyme. As they | | | | can read to himself. Older children will benefit |
| are able to talk, memorizing is also a great tool to | | | | significantly also. |
| increase language and reading skills. | | | | Parents underestimate their own ability to help |
| - Bring the characters to life when you read aloud. | | | | their child's reading fluency. So go ahead; choose |
| Read with enthusiasm using vocal inflections to | | | | good reading material and start enjoying the |
| help keep your child's attention. Start slowly and | | | | benefits of reading aloud as a family. |