Reading books with your little one has countless benefits.
When adults read aloud to their children, they model that they enjoy reading, they expose children to a more extensive vocabulary and depending upon the books higher-level ideas. The experts say exposure to vocabulary is good for all kids.
There is Lots of Ways to Experience and Enjoy A Book Aside From SImply Reading It:
With Babies and Toddlers
• Read an animal book and enjoy making the animal sounds.
• Read an ABC story and then sing the ABC song.
• Practice tracing the letters in the ABC book with your child.
• After reading a book on colors — point out things in the room that you are in and state their colors. Then go back to the book and point to the colors in the book.
• After reading a book on counting — put a pile of straws out and count them out. If you have colored straws have the toddler count them out by color.
• If there are characters — use various voices and read the story with facial expressions or hand movements.
• With rhyming books You can sing the words and if it makes it much easier for toddlers to sing along. You can add a fun musical instrument or even to make a one with rice and an empty paper towel tube for your child to shake.With Preschoolers and Early Elementary School Children
• Pretend to be a character in the book.With Older Children
• Ask questions about the story.
• Turn the story of the book into a script.
• Read the script out loud together. Highlight the memorization of the students’ roles as well as great vocal commentary and expression.
• While the parent/caregiver/teacher reads the book aloud, children can act out the situations in the book. Students can pick which character they want to play. Have children put emphasis on body movement and facial emotions and expressions, as well as listening skills. Then have children change characters and read the book over.With Early Elementary and Older Children
• It’s an opportunity to reflect and think about the subject of the story and when you are finished reading the story — come back to it and write down some thoughts and ideas.
• Without making sounds or talking, students act out a favorite scene from the book. Then ask the rest of the group/class to figure out which scene they are acting out.Where, When, and How Long to Read
Read to your child every day. Several books a day or more.
Where
• Outside under a tree.
• In a cozy chair.
• In a cardboard forte.When
• After breakfast, lunch or dinner.
• At bedtime.How Long
• Aim for at least 15 minutes a day.
• You can break this time up into small increments.Final Note
Make sure to shut off the all devices (i.e. the TV and the computer) and simply enjoy the time together!
