Developing strong readers is a top priority at Lansing Academy. As parents and caregivers, you can help to lay the foundation for a lifelong love of reading for the children in your life. In celebration of National Reading Month this March, following are a few helpful tips that will have you on your way to turning your child into a lifelong reader.
Make Time to Read
Try to read with your child every day at a regularly scheduled time. If possible, choose a time when you can be relaxed and not rushed. If you have more than one child, spend time reading with each child separately, especially if they’re more than two years apart. On days that are particularly hectic, bring a few books when you take children along on errands. Taking time to read to children on a regular basis sends the message that reading is important and worthwhile.
One More Time…PLEASE?!
As every adult who cares for children knows, they often ask to hear the same story again and again. They delight in knowing what comes next and often learn a favorite book so well that they can quote it on their own. That favorite story may speak to your child’s current interests and emotional needs, so it’s important for the adults in their lives to be patient during this phase. Young children are eventually ready for different stories if they are continuously exposed to a variety of books.
Slow Down
It’s not just what you read to children, but how you read that matters. If adults rush through stories or read without enthusiasm, children quickly lose interest. Try to read with expression and use different voices for the characters. Reading at a leisurely pace with occasional pauses gives children time to take in what they hear, mull it over, and imagine the people, places, and events.
Choose Books with Care
Reading together often, you learn a lot about the kinds of books your child likes and understands. We are fortunate to have a number of exceptional public libraries in Lansing, http://www.cadl.org/,
so don’t hesitate to utilize these as a resource for you and your child. Frequent trips to the library open a world of literary exploration to your child. Additionally, libraries often run fun and engaging programs, such as Books for Breakfast, that present excellent opportunities to increase your child’s love of reading.
Start a Children’s Book Club
Nobody said reading needs to be done alone, so why not start a book club with a bunch of your child’s friends? Not only will this strengthen your child’s reading skills, but it will help develop his social skills as well. Simply find a group of parents who wouldn’t mind rotating as hosts and allow a different child to pick a book for the group to read each week. For more tips on starting a children’s book club, visit http://www.kidsreads.com/clubs/.
Don’t Pressure Children About What or When to Read
Nagging children about their reading habits may cause them to resist reading all together. Some school-age children choose to read only comic books or fan magazines after their homework is finished. Try not to criticize – after all, they are reading. If a child makes a mistake when reading aloud, don’t interrupt. If the mistake doesn’t change the meaning, let it go.
Strong reading skills are the foundation of academic success. For that reason, we urge you to celebrate National Reading Month throughout March with your child. While we’ll certainly do more than our share of reading in school, your support will reinforce the importance of reading, so pick up a book and have some literary fun with your child.
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