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| Read to a child. |
1. The earlier you start the better. An infant is reading at that magical moment when it first responds to a parent’s smile. Important meaning is found in that smile, and that’s what reading is all about—discovering meaning. It’s never too early or too late to read a book to a child. As you read, point to the pictures or move your finger under the words. They will soon learn that pictures tell a story, that words tell about pictures, that sentences (in many languages) are read from left to right, and that pages are from top to bottom.
2. Time means love. Set aside a regular block of time to read aloud. Avoid times when your child has obligations such as homework or wants to watch a favourite TV program. Make a commitment and stay with it. If necessary, turn down other appointments. Think about the positive message that will send to your child.
3. Listening shows commitment. There will be times when your child wants to share or talk about a book he has read. You can’t always drop everything, but when you can, do. When you must postpone the request, explain why, commit to a time later in the day, and keep your commitment. The younger the child, the sooner that time should be.
4. Selecting books teaches values. Read to a child and discover his interests. Adventure stories? Space? Flight? Horses? You may like “how to” books, but they may want to read about whales. As children grow older, involve them in selecting books. Introduce them to the library and make regular visits together. Not all books will appeal to your children, and not all are books you will want them to read. But you can introduce them to a better quality of literature as you determine criteria together, and they will be better prepared to make their own selections in the future.
5. Discover your child’s ability to understand books. For example, if your child wants to learn more about space exploration, use materials he can comprehend. Younger children will learn more from books with pictures. Knowing that a man traveled to the moon may be enough to satisfy a beginner. How he got there will interest older readers.
6. Assess his reading level as you read to a child. Start where the child is. How do you find out? Read to the child and then ask him to read a page aloud. If you hear five or more mistakes, the book is probably too difficult. But if the subject holds the child’s interest, don’t deny the opportunity to learn. This is probably one of those books that you should read aloud to your child.
Sharing great books is a bonding experience with the parent and the child. Just fifteen minutes a day to read to a child will make a big difference!
