Originally posted on Moms Magazine

“Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.” — Kate DiCamillo

Reading aloud with your child should always be a special time. It is the single most important thing you can do for your child to set them up for future success in school. I know this to be true. I read to my children when they were in the womb.  (I realize that some children are adopted and this isn’t an option. Therefore, begin reading to them as soon as they become a part of your family.)  Click here to find out what happens when you read aloud to your baby.

Now, my children are in college and high school doing better than average. One of them has dyslexia, but because I read to him since birth, his odds of doing well were increased. You increase your child’s odds for success by reading aloud to them too.

read aloud

How To Read Aloud:

  1. Keep it a warm and fuzzy time.

  2. Ham it up- read with expression. This keeps it interesting and teaches young children that reading is fun.

  3. Preview the book by talking about the pictures and the cover before reading it. This sets up background knowledge which increases comprehension.

  4. No need to rush. Keep it fun and at their interest level.

  5. Involve your child in the story by allowing them to turn the page of the book.

  6. Look for opportunities to talk about the story which expands vocabulary and language skills.

  7. Do it daily for optimal parent-child bonding and language development.

I believe that one of the best ways to learn is to see what I’m saying in action. I can tell you how to read aloud to your child, but this video by Scholastic role models these steps well with explanations how to do it and why. It is a fabulous four minute video well worth watching so you can begin growing your child’s reading skills even more by reading aloud with a punch.

Reading aloud to young children benefits brain development, reading skills, social skills and so much more. Reading aloud to babies is so important that The American Academy of Pediatrics instilled a policy in 2014 to promote reading aloud. Now that you have some wonderful tips for reading aloud to young children, pick up a book and put a child on your lap, and let the bonding and learning begin. It will last a lifetime.

Read aloud books recommended by The American Academy of Pediatrics.

Let’s make a positive difference~ one word at a time.

♥Pamela

Please share this article with others that you think would benefit from these tips. Also, please ask any questions that you may have about teaching children reading or writing. Leave your questions in the comments. I’ll answer. :)

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