Introduction to Reading: Why?

There's simply more too it than just reading a book.

When you read to your child you are doing so much more than you realize.  Reading is not simply using your words or your mind, it is also a social activity.  There are many accomplishments that go along with reading like memory, attention, language and motivation.

Learning to read poses challenges, even to children who will eventually become good readers.  Some children with certain demographic characteristics are at greater risk of reading difficulties than others.  The good news is that literacy is positively valued by adults in minority communities and the positive views are brought to school by young children because the value reading.  When reading has value to your child the challenges they face when learning to read will more than likely not feel so big.

When should a parent start reading to a child?  

The answer is simple.  Start reading to your child as soon as your child can listen to you.  If you are pregnant, you can start reading to your child during pregnancy.  If your children come to you later through adoption or foster care, start reading immediately to them.  You can't go wrong.  Story time can be soothing to little ones.

Infants and Toddlers seem to prefer being read to from the same book over and over.  It gives them a good foundation for what the book is about about, how the book is used and builds a solid repertoire for.the story itself.  When the children are old enough they can "help" you read the story.

It has been found that babies that are read too in the womb from the same book over and over, are later comforted by the same book as infants and toddlers.  So, it's never too early to start reading to your child.

Children are making so many connections to their world as babies and toddlers, by reading to them, you are exposing them to their world in a form that they will be able to build upon for the rest of their lives.  The fluency in reading that they hear is the basis for their own fluency later.

Not only is reading to your child laying the groundwork for better reading skills later on.  You are teaching your child that reading is a joy, it's entertaining, it's time spent with a loved one and that's what they crave most.  Here's a list of books appropriate classic board books for infants and toddlers.

When I was pregnant with my oldest son, my husband read to him this book by Mem Fox, "Time for Bed"  He'd prop up next to my belly and read a bedtime story every night.  Later when he was born early and was in the NICU, we'd read to him the same story during our visits.  Our voices along with a familiar string of words and sounds proved to be comforting to him.  We admit, it was harder to read to number two while I was pregnant but he did hear the stories that were being read to his older brother daily and the same goes for our number 3.  Our children have such a love for books as a result.  The insist upon being read to nightly (and daily). 

Our little number 3 is two years old now and his favorite bedtime book (aside from "Thomas the Tank Engine) is of course, "Goodnight Moon."  He thinks he can read the book himself because he knows what to say by looking at the pictures, he holds the book correctly and turns the pages.  Now, that IS an important pre-reading step.  Below are a list of concepts of print to look for.

 
Concepts of Print

• Your child can recognize print in everyday life, such as on cereal boxes, street signs (ex. McDonalds)
  
• Your child can hold a book, turn the pages, and pretend to read
• Your child can follow the series of events in some stories
• Your child can ask questions and make comments that show he or she understands what you read to him or her

I'll go into more detail as we forge ahead.  In the mean time, grab a book, grab a child and read!