Learning how to read is probably the most valuable skill that your child will ever
learn. Being able to read ensures that your child will be successful in school and
for the rest of his life. As a parent you can help your young child learn valuable
skills and gain an interest and love for reading that will make learning to read
easier. Read on for ideas about getting your child to love reading.
Choosing a book is important. When your child is in infant and toddler you want to
choose books that can hold their interest, even if it is only for a few minutes.
Choose books that stimulate your child's sight and hearing.
Begin with books with simple black and white pictures then move to colorful pictures.
Children enjoy listening to rhyme or books that contain repetition. Rhyme also helps develop the ear and makes children sensitive to the sound of words.
Young children like books that they can relate to and contain everyday events or things in their lives.
Books are also a great way to introduce and teach colors, animals, shapes, letters, and numbers.
Make sure that there are not to many words on a page.
When reading to toddler it is important to keep the following points in mind.
Children like repetition. They will often request their favorite book over and over again. So read their favorite and then introduce a new book.
Keep the reading sessions short. A young child does not have a very long attention span. Read throughout the day instead of one long session.
Let your child touch and chew on the book. Buy board or cloth books that are made for young children.
Talk about the pictures as you read. Point out things that your child sees often like a dog, tree, house, or ball.
Hold your child on your lap and help strengthen the parent-child bond while reading.
Turn the page when your child decides too. It doesn't matter if you didn't finish the text. Going at their pace will retain their interest. Feel
free to skip or add your own words while reading.
Set the books out and make them available for your child to read on their own. I have a picture of my son at eleven months old lying on my bed reading a book.
As your child grows and matures you can change your reading style and choice of books to match
their age. Preschoolers can handle longer sessions of reading and enjoy a wider variety of books. Visit your library and
check out different books.
Read picture books with more words on each page. Start reading short chapter books like
Amelia Bedelia, Little Bear, Franklin the Turtle, Arthur, and the Great Brain. You don't
have to read the entire book in one sitting.
Start reading non-fiction books. As a preschooler my son loved dinosaurs so we read many
dinosaur books.
Before you begin reading say the author and title of the book. This helps children realize
that someone wrote it.
As you read stop and talk about the story. Discuss what is taking place in the pictures.
Have your child predict what will happen next. Relate prior events to what happened on that
page. This teaches valuable reading skills like prediction and cause and effect.
Use your finger to follow along with the text as you are reading. This teaches your child
the direction of the text. It also helps them realize that you are reading the words and not
just making the story up.
When you are reading a book that contains the same phrase stop and have your child provide
the word or phrase. For example Green Eggs and Ham often repeats the phrase, "I don't like
them Sam I am."
If your child has a hard time sitting still let them turn the pages for you.
Don't be afraid to read the same story over and over. Although you will be tired
of it your young child is processing the story and imprinting it in their mind. Children
learn through repetition.
Reading is important and a lot of fun. So pick up a book and get your child to love reading.
