"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."
Emilie Buchwald
Here's a fact...I LOVE books! I love words and I love to read. My idea of great day is one spent lying on the beach with a good book, some cold Dr. Pepper, and maybe some snacks. (Today, however, is a record-cold South Florida day and I would love to be snuggled in blankets instead!) Last night, my husband and I went to a Boarders bookstore that is going out of business and EVERYTHING is on sale. I think I could have spent a full day there...searching and uncovering great books for a great buy! The works of Jane Austen for $4.00? Come on! How does it get much better?!
I wish all my children had this same passion for reading. Most of them do. However, my son struggles with dyslexia. Reading, for him, is often a chore...a thing to be tolerated...sometimes a thing he is "forced" to do. I loved reading books to him as a baby and toddler. He always loved books about trucks and cars. Now, it is much more difficult to find books he can dive into and actually enjoy. Some do exist...he has even ASKED to go to the bookstore and get a book before we take a flight to California! I think I may have teared up at that request!! :)
Early literacy is more important than we often realize, and forms more connections in the brain than you can possibly imagine. I ALWAYS give books as baby shower gifts. I truly believe I am giving a gift with more value than the most adorable little shoes or teeny tiny t-shirts (although I've been known to add those in too!). Here are some FACTS about early literacy:
*You know your children best. Children learn best when they are in a good mood, and who knows those moods better than you?! You can help your children learn reading skills in ways that are easiest for them at whatever stage they are at in their development. Children learn best by doing things—and they love doing things with YOU. Take every chance you have to read with your children, tell and talk about stories, say nursery rhymes and sing songs.*Brain development research shows that reading aloud to your child every day increases his brain's capacity for language and literacy skills and is the most important thing you can do to prepare him for learning to read. *In an analysis of nearly 200 studies, White (cited in van Kleeck, 1990) concluded that it was not socioeconomic status that contributed most directly to reading achievement, but rather other family characteristics related to context such as academic guidance, attitude toward education, parental aspirations for the child, conversations and reading materials in the home, and cultural activities.)
Experts now know that:
~The development of language and literacy skills begins at birth.
~Children develop much of their capacity for learning in the first three years of life, when their brains grow to 90 percent of their eventual adult weight.
Here are some quick tips to reading aloud with very young children:
~Read to and with children every day!
~To keep interest, let the child choose the books.
~Find a comfortable space and cozy up together. This creates a bonding that will reinforce to the child that reading is an enjoyable activity, and it will increase the bond between you.
~Change your voice, pace and even change the wording if necessary to fit your child's age and interest. You don't ever have to read every word on the page, unless your child can read too!
~Talk about the pictures using language rich in description words and action words
~Talk about the story and what happened
~Make it fun!! Let your child know that reading is wonderful!!!
