| • Example of reading Aloud using BABY, COME OUT! • Introducing Books To Children Reasons to Read Aloud to your Child Reading with your child is a way to show that they are important to you. When you give your time and complete attention by sharing the pleasure of a favorite story, children feel special and loved. Settling down together in a comfortable spot with a book and quiet time lets kids know that reading is an activity that you can both enjoy equally. It's cozy and comfortable! Reading to your child gives him new experiences. Reading about places where he has not been gives him new ideas and images to think about. Children learn that they can travel through books and discover new things! Through books children can learn about people who look different from the people they know and realize how much they have in common. Reading helps children learn about language. They learn new words and what they mean. Children hear words in books that they don't hear in conversation. The pictures in children's books help to give meaning to the words. Take time, look at the pictures and talk about them. Sharing stories with your child can help him cope with problems. Does she feel that no one likes her? Or that she will never learn to write beautifully? Many books present characters that face challenges and overcome problems. These provide examples for children and give them hope. Books help children develop their imagination. Books teach her to think about life creatively. Hearing about new people and places allows her to imagine other possibilities for her life. Books help children prepare for experiences in life. You can help your child get ready for a visit to the doctor or hospital by reading about what it will be like. Reading about the unfamiliar can make in less frightening. Books can expand your child's understanding of the world. Reading to children helps prepare them for success in school. Children learn to listen when they are read to. As they follow along they learn to associate sounds and meaning to the print on the page. This provides the early concepts that are necessary to learn to read. As you read for longer times this gradually helps to increase a child's attention span. Being able to pay attention in school helps them succeed. How to Begin Reading Aloud Let your child select the book they want to hear. Choose a time when your child is alert and happy. Eliminate distractions such as television or radios. Find a comfortable spot and sit close together or hold him on your lap. Together, look at the cover of the book. Read the title, author and Illustrated by. Use these terms with your child so she becomes familiar with them and what they mean. If there is a dedication, read that and explain what it means to dedicate your work to someone. Use a calm, gentle inviting voice. Ask questions about the title that will engage her curiosity so she will want to hear what happens. For example, "Why do you think the author named the boy Jan?" Asking questions that are open and solicit his thoughts or ideas will make him ready to listen and learn! Read the book with enthusiasm and interest. Your voice communicates your level of attention and enjoyment. Use different voices for different characters. Vary the pace of your reading to match the story, when it is exciting read a bit more quickly! Modulate your voice to add to the meaning. Ask questions as you go along that help anticipate what will happen next. Give your child time to think and respond. Allow them to discover the story; there doesn't have to be a right or wrong answer! Sometimes children want to hear the same story repeated many times. This is important in their development as they understand that there is predictability to life. Be patient with them, keep reading and offer a variety of books! Watch your child's reaction. If he is losing interest, that's OK. Take a break and begin again at a time when he is attentive and interested. Never force a bored child to sit still and listen. Keep offering books in a positive and loving way. Your child will learn that reading means special times with you! He or she will find the joy in reading and develop a love for learning! References: Read for Joy Claudia Quigg, Baby Talk Publications, 1993.
The Read Aloud Handbook JimTrelease Back | 
