Reading To Your Child To Help Her Grow

Tomorrow we celebrate Dr. Seuss’ Birthday & Read Across America Day so today we want to take a look at some tips for reading to your child.

Reading aloud with your child for just 20 minutes a day  strengthens relationships, encourages listening and language skills, promotes attention and curiosity and establishes a strong reading foundation. These skills are essential for success in school and in life.

A few tips for setting your child on the path to literacy:

1. Field Trips – Take field trips to your library or local bookstore. Help your child feel at home among books and take advantage of they many free programs your library or bookstore offers.
2. Read to your baby - Use books with different textures and pictures. Soon your baby will associate words and pictures with meaning.
3. Go beyond words – Point out specific objects and illustrations in books to your toddler. Ask them, “Where is the mouse? Where is the green tree?” This will help your child increase his vocabulary.
4. Encourage – If your child wants to try to pronounce a word, encourage her and take the time to let her recognize and pronounce words.
5. Have fun – Your positive reaction to reading time will signal to your child that books are fun.

Enjoy opening new worlds of learning with your child through books!