Encouraging young children to develop a love for reading and learning can set them up for success later in life. Here are some tips to make the process more enjoyable and effective for both children and parents:
1. Choose the right books: Look for books that have large, colorful pictures or photos, a few words on a page, rich language, and relate to concepts, people, or things in children's lives. Even books with few words, like "The Hungry Caterpillar," can teach valuable lessons.
2. Read out loud: Read to your child regularly and often. Pick a regular reading time, but also watch for opportunities to read books, signs, letters, or other prints spontaneously. The more stories children hear before entering school, the more likely they will be successful academically.
3. Make reading fun: Use a variety of expressions, tones, and voices to make a book even more fun. Encourage your child to join in on repeating phrases or rhymes, and honor requests to read the same book over and over.
4. Make books available: Make books available to babies and toddlers every day. Babies don't distinguish books from other toys and may pull, toss, or chew books. This tactile, physical exploration of books and how they work is important to literacy development.
5. Talk to your child: Talk with your child regularly about a variety of topics. Conversations with your children about what they are reading are critical to children's learning. Discussing books helps them understand how stories work, and how language works. When reading, stop and talk about the pictures and words on the page.
6. Listen to your child: Respond to your child's conversation and repeat their words back to them. Ask questions to show you are listening and that encourage a child to talk. Listen carefully and acknowledge answers. Listen to children's questions and take time to answer.
7. Sing with your child: Children love to sing and can learn a great deal about stories and language from many popular children's songs. Pull out old favorites like "This Old Man" or "Where is Thumbkin?" and make up your own songs, too.
8. Let your child write: Encourage your child to write and draw. Recent research shows that young children who are allowed to write often with invented spelling, develop the ability to become good readers. It doesn't matter how they spell, as the process of writing helps them pay attention to the sounds words make and the letters that form words.
By following these tips, parents, and caregivers can provide positive, enjoyable literacy experiences that can set young children on the path to becoming successful readers and learners.
