READ…RIGHT FROM THE START!

MJ Dougherty, LSW-C

When parents help their children become lifelong readers, they present infinite opportunities for growth and learning.  Reading enhances imagination and vocabulary, and can help a child increase his or her awareness of the world around them.

Parents are the first and most important teachers in their children’s lives.  Children who grow up in a home where parents are avid readers learn by example, and see firsthand the joys and benefits of reading.  Parents do not have to be experienced teachers in order to help their children gain reading skills.  They only need time, and desire to encourage their child to read. 

Some things to consider when you are planning to teach pre-reading and reading skills to your child:

• Set aside a time for reading to your child every day.  In today’s hurried society, time may be difficult to find.  However, it is important to remember that it is not necessarily the quantity of time you are able to give that is essential, but the quality.  Even fifteen to thirty minutes a day will provide your child with intellectual stimulation, not to mention the attention that they need and want.
• Start early!  Even if you think that your infant is too young to value or understand stories, the habits that you help them develop can take root.
• Limit television time.  Think of books as a more interactive form of television.  Reading makes your child an active participant in his or her growth, rather than a passive recipient of information.
• Let your toddler “read” a favorite story to you, even if they are only approximating the story based on their memory and the pictures.  An essential pre-reading skill for your child to develop is the ability to turn pages in a book from front to back, and follow words from left to right.
• Ask your child questions about the story as you read.  The questions can be based on fact, opinion, or past experience, and can help your child develop skills in both comprehension and critical thinking.
• Encourage your preschooler to “write” his or her own stories.  Don’t worry about spelling.  Let your child spell words phonetically (by sound), encourage them to illustrate the story, and then read it back to you.  Use yarn or thread to bind the book, and use wallpaper remnants glued to cardboard as a cover.  Your child will be delighted when he or she “publishes” a book.

Reading is a skill that is not only essential for everyday life.  It is an activity that brings new worlds to light in a child’s life.  It provides insight into other cultures, presents opportunities for growth, and helps to develop new ideas.  The time you invest in your child’s reading skill is a gift that will last a lifetime.  So what are you waiting for?  Grab a book, call your child, cuddle up, and read…right from the start!