| Reading to your child is VERY important. Many of | | | | words, and read for deeper understanding of the |
| us think that because our child reads already, they | | | | concepts and characters and happenings in the |
| do not need us to read with them anymore. Even | | | | story. Many children are not understanding all the |
| when your child can read for themselves, reading | | | | words they read, and so miss the deeper |
| to them and with them is important for four | | | | meaning of the story. Also they might not always |
| reasons. | | | | understand all the ideas they are reading about. |
| 1. You can both enjoy precious, quiet moments | | | | This means that although they may generally |
| together regularly. Many of us live in a hectic and | | | | understand the plot, they miss out on how funny |
| noisy world and there are often not enough quiet | | | | or how exciting the story actually is. It is a good |
| moments in the day when you sit and do | | | | idea to keep your explanations quick and simple |
| something with your child. Quiet moments before | | | | so that they continue to follow the plot but you |
| the next activity will refresh you both and renew | | | | can be their dictionary and can quickly and simply |
| your bond with each other. | | | | explain what new words mean so that they can |
| 2. You can both learn more about each other. | | | | enjoy the story more thoroughly. |
| Reading together will create the time to learn | | | | Hints |
| more from each other. Reading and discussing a | | | | * Read books that your child is interested in, but |
| story or factual account can lead to the sharing | | | | cannot quite read themselves because the words |
| of thoughts and feelings on related topics and | | | | are too hard for them. |
| bring you closer together.You will be amazed | | | | * Read books you enjoyed as a child or think you |
| about the opinions and ideas your child has and | | | | will enjoy now because then you will read with |
| what they think about. As well, your child can | | | | pleasure and your child will listen with pleasure. |
| learn more about your values, your ideas and | | | | * Get your child to follow the words with their |
| your 'take on the world'. | | | | eyes as you read. Then they can learn new |
| 3. Your child learns from your example that | | | | reading vocabulary in a fun and painless fashion. |
| reading is fun. Many children see reading as a | | | | * Get your child to share-read the words they |
| chore, and some see it as very hard and boring | | | | know, or share-read sentence by sentence for |
| work. Sharing the enjoyment of a book you are | | | | some of the story. |
| both interested in shows them over time how | | | | * Do not read beyond their ability to concentrate |
| much fun reading can be. | | | | so monitor how well they are listening to you. |
| 4. Last but certainly not least, you hand your child | | | | * Read with expression! |
| the tools to do very well with reading and writing | | | | * Always stop at an exciting cliffhanger when |
| skills, by giving them a wider vocabulary and a | | | | possible and then they will be eager to read with |
| deeper understanding of ideas. This means they | | | | you the next reading time. |
| can move beyond just the functional reading of | | | | |