Why You Should Read Aloud to Your Young Learner

February 20, 2019

When we read to our children, we are not only validating and encouraging their vocabulary and comprehension skills, we are also tying these fundamental lessons into intimate and rewarding bonding time. Children that read with their parents are more likely to be successful, confident, and happy. Reading cultivates a child’s creativity, curiosity, and comprehension capabilities, and a progression through scaffolded reading material can instill in this child a sense of pride and accomplishment. The more involved we can be on this journey, the closer and more rewarding our bonds will be.

I want parents to know that their child is perfect the way they are and that my job is to provide strategies that facilitate their child’s learning so that their child can achieve their highest learning potential.

Here are some easy tips to help you stimulate a love of reading within your child:

Build it into a schedule: If you are a parent, you already know that raising children is a 24/7 job that doesn’t allow for weekends off. Because of this, establishing a routine is crucial when raising children. Thankfully, fifteen or thirty minutes of reading time can be worked into even the most hectic schedules, especially if positioned around bedtime.

Go to a bookstore: Get your child involved in the book selection process. This is also a good opportunity to talk with your loved ones about preferences. Have they recently expressed interest in a new hobby? This is the perfect time to browse your local bookstore for something engaging and appropriate for their age level. Most bookstores also have a reading nook where you can sit and read quietly alongside other enthusiastic bookworms.

Be honest: Some books will not be a good match for you and/or your child; feel free to stop reading a book before you finish if you recognize you are neither enjoying it nor getting anything out of it. Also, never be afraid to use this as a teachable moment with your child. Even just talking about what we like or don’t like about a book (or anything!) can be a really helpful element of the learning process, which leads into the last tip.

Be open to serendipitous teaching moments: Children are awash with questions, and the best books get their question gears spinning at full speed. Use these precious moments to help them learn how to ask questions, how to listen, how to collaborate, or how to progress through challenging, scaffolded material. Feel free to ask them questions at regular intervals or use lighthearted quiz questions to check their understanding.

Regardless of how you and your child decide to incorporate collaborative reading into your schedule, you will both benefit from the time spent together. Reading aloud with children is one of the most well-documented activities you can share with them that is overwhelmingly positive. Head down to your bookstore today and accelerate the growth of your child’s imagination and intelligence!