from United Way of Greater St. Louis
Reading aloud to a child is crucial to his or her language and intellectual development. Research shows the number of books in a child’s home is the only behavior measure that correlates significantly with reading scores. Almost half of children ages 3-5 in the U.S. are rarely read to or not at all, making them 3-4 times more likely to drop out of school in later years. By showing children the joys of reading, you are helping prepare them for a bright, successful future.
1. Read with your child every day starting at birth. (It’s never too late to start, though!) Reading even 5 or 10 minutes a day to young children helps them get ready to read on their own. You can even set aside a special time each day, such as nap time, bedtime or after meals. If you miss a day, don’t worry— just pick up where you left off.
2. As you read, hold the book so your child can see the words and pictures. Ask the child to point to certain objects (“Can you find the red ball?”) on the page and repeat new words.
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3. Take advantage of "waiting" times to share books—on trips, at the doctor's office, or even in line at the grocery store.
4. Help a child stay actively involved with a story and develop reading comprehension. Instead of reading the story straight through, ask the child open-ended questions about the story: "Why do you think Goldilocks ate Baby Bear's porridge?" or "What do you think will happen next?"