It’s never too early to begin reading, the early years are critical to develop a lifelong love of reading. The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader. Try a new tip each week and see what works best for you.
*Read together every day.
Read to your child every day. Make this a warm and loving time when the two of you can cuddle close.
*Give everything a name.
Build your child’s vocabulary by talking about interesting words and objects.
*Say how much you enjoy reading.
Tell your child how much you enjoy reading with him or her. Talk about “story time” as the favorite part of your day.
*Read with fun in your voice.
Read to your child with humor and expression. Use different voices. Ham it up!
*Know when to stop.
Put the book away for awhile if your child loses interest or is having trouble paying attention.
*Be interactive.
Discuss what’s happening in the book, point out things on the page, and ask questions.
*Read it again and again.
Go ahead and read your child’s favorite book for the 100th time!
*Talk about writing, too.
Mention to your child how we read from left to right and how words are separated by spaces.
*Point out print everywhere.
Talk about the written words you see in the world around you. Ask your child to find a new word on each outing.
Visit www.ReadingRockets.org for more information on how you can launch a child into a bright future through reading.
