Raising A Reader
Reading begins at home. As a parent you are the first and most important link on the road to reading. Enjoy stories with your child from
a very early age. Even newborns can sense your enthusiasm when you read to them. Try to set aside a special time each and every day
that you and your child can enjoy a number of books together without interruption. Your child will signal you when he or she begins to tire of this
activity. Let this be your clue that story time has ended. It is probably
best to let your child dictate the length of time spent reading and you
will find that as the activity becomes standard, your child will sit
and listen for longer periods of time.
Be sure and engage your child in conversations, for communicating
orally is a prerequisite to understanding the written word. Encourage and
ask questions like "Why?", "What would you have done?" or "Who was your
favorite character?" from a book or television show.
Your child will have a lot of fun choosing books from the library or bookstore
and will enjoy even the simplest of tales. Once your child begins
to read independently, take turns reading to each other. This is also a
great time to begin to read longer stories, perhaps a chapter or two a
day. There are plenty of books out there that will keep them on the
edge of their seats until the next reading session.
Be certain that your child has the opportunity to watch you enjoy
reading. Don't save those newspapers, magazines or novels until after
the little ones are in bed.
Your child will begin to read on their own timetable. They may be a
"listener" longer than other children their age. Don't fret, they will begin
to read when the time is right for them. Should you have a question
about their reading ability, don't hesitate to ask your pediatrician or
school personnel about early reading and literacy programs in your community. They may be able to suggest steps to take to further
your child's reading abilities.
Don't be a prisoner of age related material. Use age suggestions as a
guideline only. Even very young children can listen to and comprehend
rather technical, scientific or historical books. Your child may be interested
in dinosaurs or trains for example. Let them choose their books and
read them over and over if necessary. If it is a subject dear to their
heart, they will become a walking, talking encyclopedia on the subject!
Make a habit of giving children's books or magazine subscriptions as gifts. There
are books and magazines for every interest and age group. If in doubt, a gift certificate
from a book seller is a great gift for all ages.
Write your own stories! Even a child that cannot write yet can dictate a
story to you. Keep a journal of these stories. They will make a
wonderful keepsake and will bring back very special memories for you
and your child. Encourage older children to keep a journal or diary. This
not only allows them to perfect their writing skills but will help them
relieve the stresses of everyday life. Ask relatives or out of town friends
to correspond by mail with your child, not only do they get the thrill of
receiving their own mail, they will enjoy reading their letters and best of
all replying to them.
Playing word games is also a fun way to learn new words and develop a
much larger vocabulary. Board games like scrabble and homemade
games are excellent learning tools. Try playing rhyming games with your child when
driving or walking. Think of a word and each of you take a turn thinking up words (real or imagined) that rhyme with it.
Get your child a dictionary. This will not only be educational but your
child might even spend time reading it and discover lots of new words!
Always have a book with you! A short story is just the thing to pass the time when waiting in line, sitting at the doctor's office or picking up siblings from school.
I hope these reading tips have been helpful to you and wish you a very happy trip on the road to reading!
© 2000, T. Smith
Reprint information is granted for internet, print or e-zine publications only if the following information is included as written.
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About the author: T. Smith is a mother of three, author of
the Let's Think About . . . books and a small business owner
who believes that children are our greatest treasure.
www.tlsbooks.com
© 2000, 2006 T. Smith
