Reading is important for so many reasons. It helps build concentration, vocabulary and brain capacity. Reading with your child deepens family connections, introduces children to new knowledge and worlds they may never have otherwise experienced, not to mention it is fun and easy to do. All you need is a few minutes and a good book.
Some tips for reading with your child:
- Children are never too old to be read with. Regardless of the age, reading with your child is a great opportunity for bonding.
- Check out your local library. It is full of literacy resources and programs for children.
- For older children consider reading some of the same books as your children.
- Ask your children questions about what they are reading.
- Find out about your children’s interests and hobbies. Topics of interest keep children engaged in reading. Comic books and magazines are good too!
- Play games together that involve reading. Games like Scrabble, word Bingo and Trivial Pursuit are great learning games and children don’t even realize they are learning to read.
- Computers can be great tools for reading and/or creating their own books.
- Consider that books make great gifts.
- Model reading yourself.
The following tips were adapted from the following website: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/
