| Did you know that in your home there exists a hidden | | | | your unique child? The internet and/or librarians can be |
| gift that will guarantee your child's vocabulary and | | | | good sources for finding popular children's books.o |
| language development? Did you know that this same | | | | Make sure you pre-read and like the book you are |
| gift could unleash your child's critical thinking and | | | | reading to your child. Your enthusiasm and enjoyment |
| conversational skills? As if that weren't enough, this gift | | | | of the experience, or lack thereof, will come through.o |
| will also strengthen the bond between you and your | | | | Shorten or bypass long descriptive passages until your |
| child. If I told you this treasure would cost you nothing, | | | | child's attention span is capable of handling them.o |
| require little preparation, and would last forever, would | | | | Allow your child to choose the book to be read. If he |
| you take it? | | | | she chooses the same book every night (kids love |
| Fortunately, many parents across the nation are | | | | repetition), then extend the session and bring in a book |
| choosing to give the gift of their TIME to their children | | | | of your choice to read afterwards.o Previewing the |
| by reading aloud to them every day. The practice may | | | | book with your child is an important reading strategy |
| sound simple, but research has proven the promises of | | | | that will enhance your child's reading comprehension. |
| this daily act are real. | | | | Look at the pictures before you start reading. Always |
| It is never too early to start reading to your child. Even | | | | read the title and the author's name of the book, even |
| newborns and toddlers will benefit from the interaction | | | | if you've read it a million times already. Review some |
| with early literacy. The time you invest in your child | | | | key vocabulary words that may be unfamiliar to your |
| now will later grow into solid reading comprehension | | | | child. Ask your child to predict what the book will be |
| skills, a mastery of language acquisition, and a greater | | | | about.o As you read, try asking your child what he/she |
| chance of overall success at school. | | | | thinks will happen next? This will maintain their interest, |
| The suggestions below will all enhance your read-aloud | | | | keep them involved, and build their reasoning skills, |
| time with your child:o Try to go a step beyond simply | | | | Also.o Allow young children to have a role during the |
| reading the book to your child. Talking about the book, | | | | reading by allowing them to turn the pages for you or |
| either during or after reading, is vital to your child's | | | | by having them recite key phrases of the story from |
| development of critical thinking and language skills. | | | | memory.o If you lack the time to finish the book, make |
| Asking yes or no questions, such as "Did you like the | | | | sure you choose a good stopping point that will hold |
| book" are not as effective. Try sharing your response | | | | your child's suspense until the following day.o |
| to the book instead by saying something like, "I'm really | | | | Read-alouds should not end after your child learns to |
| surprised by the ending. I thought he would have | | | | read. Beginning readers need a lot of opportunities to |
| returned home." This may be more likely to make your | | | | practice, and they still enjoy being read to!o As children |
| child share his/her opinion. Be accepting of your | | | | grow into more independent readers, try parallel |
| children's opinions, so that they learn there can be | | | | reading with them. This occurs when parents read the |
| more than one right answer. As children become used | | | | same book their child is reading and allows them |
| to sharing their opinions, their insights will improve.o | | | | opportunities to discuss the book together. Parents can |
| Stock an enjoyable selection of children's books from | | | | also select books by the same authors their children |
| which to choose. If you are reading to an infant, try | | | | read, and make future reading recommendations to |
| using picture books that are in black and white. For | | | | their kids. Involved parents can be one of the biggest |
| older children, use pictures that have bright, | | | | influences over what and how often children read. |
| attention-getting colors. Check to make sure the | | | | Enthusiasm is contagious! |
| language flows nicely. Are the topics interesting for | | | | |