Parents

Tips To Help Promote A Love Of Reading
By Rochelle Strauss, Author and Educator

Though the development of reading skills varies from child to child, encouraging reading and creating a reading environment at home are important steps towards literacy. Here are some tips to help promote a love of reading:

Read, read, read! The most important thing you can do to promote reading to your preschooler is to read!

Set aside time each day for reading. Before naps and bedtime are logical choices, but my son and I also love reading in bed first thing in the morning. This quiet bonding time is a great way to start the day (and I get to spend just a little extra time in bed too!)

Build a library at home. Choose books that your child is sure to be interested in and make reading materials readily available. We keep books not just in my son’s room, but in our living room, den, bathroom and kitchen. Just about anywhere he goes; there’s a book just waiting to be read.

Create a calm and relaxed reading atmosphere, where self-expression and experimentation with words are encouraged. This will help children make positive associations with reading.

Make reading fun. Experiment with different tones of voice for each character, or use sound effects and gestures.

Involve children in reading. Have them fill in words or finish sentences. Discuss different aspects of the story as you read. What do they think might happen next?

Engage children in the illustrations. Illustrators often create their own little sub-stories within the images of the book. Take a closer look at the illustrations and explore them in greater detail.

Repetition is important. While parents may tire of the same story over and over again, children seldom do. Hearing the same story repeated helps them understand concepts and develop word recognition.

Point to words as you read them or follow along with your finger. This will help children to appreciate the connection between the written word and the story. When they are ready, you can also ask them to pick out familiar letters or words.

Don’t limit your word play to reading – talk, sing and tell oral stories as well. Well-developed verbal skills are the basis for future reading.

Have your child dictate stories for you to write (on the computer). Later, read the stories together. You can also ask your child to provide captions for his/her drawings.

Create a special reading space in your home. Make sure it’s in a quiet area away from traffic and distractions. A little nook, a big comfy chair, or window box seats are all great places to read.

Get your child his or her own library card. Make visiting the library a weekly or bi-weekly event and encourage them to pick their own books. Don’t forget to get some books for yourself too, so that your child will see the enjoyment you get from reading.

Help your children make their own books. Come up with different themes, such as “My Day at the Zoo” and have your children draw or paint pictures that fit the theme. Next, work with them to create captions or stories for their illustrations and help them write them down. When you are done, staple all the pages together to make the book.

Make reading part of your everyday activities. While shopping, read signs in the stores or on labels. When traveling, encourage children to read ads and street signs. Bring books to pass the time while waiting for appointments.

Leave your children notes – on their pillow, in their lunches, etc. Even if they can’t read the notes themselves, children will love hearing other people read notes written especially for them. It will also help them with word recognition (such as; love, mom or dad, their own names, etc.).

Take out subscriptions to various kids’ magazines. These magazines offer both reading opportunities and activities that your child can do independently as well as with you. Their topics are very kid focused and appealing.

Enroll in story telling classes. Most libraries and many independent bookstores offer story time classes for children of all ages. These classes are great because they give your child access to different books and different approaches to reading. The readers also engage children with interactive components, making each session very enriching.

Play what-if games with favorite stories. What if the story ended differently? What if the main character acted differently in a certain situation?

Finally, become a role model for your children. Let them “catch” you reading and enjoying books too.