Raising Ready Readers

by Kay Kantor Pomerantz

No single factor is more important to success in school than reading. And the home is the most important influence to encourage reading. The National Education Association offers parents the following tips to help establish good reading habits early. It's never too soon to start.

Tips for reading to infants and toddlers:

• Snuggle up with your child. Use pictures to develop speaking vocabulary by talking about what is shown. Encourage your child to repeat what you say or comment on it.
  
  
• Encourage your child to ask questions. Provide models of interesting questions and examples of possible answers. "I wonder what is going to happen next? I think the rabbit will get lost because he is not paying attention to where he is going. What do you think?"
  
  
• Look for books that are about things that interest your toddler. For example, does your child like cars, insects, or animals?
  
  
• Make reading a habit before bedtime, after lunch, or after naptime.
  
  
• Give your child a chance to choose his or her own books for reading. If your toddler chooses a book that is too long to hold his attention, read some and skip some, discussing the pictures and how they relate to the story.
  
  
• Read stories again and again. Your toddler enjoys repetition and it helps him/her become familiar with the way stories are organized.

Tips for reading with children in kindergarten through third grade:

• Keep reading to your child even when your child can read. Choose books that are too difficult or long for him to read alone.
  
  
• Try reading books with chapters and talk about what is happening in the story. Encourage your child to make predictions about what will happen next and connect characters or events to those in other books and stories.
  
  
• Talk with your child about which stories she likes best. Ask whether your child likes adventure stories, mysteries, science fiction, animal stories or stories about other children. Encourage your child to explain the reasons for her preferences.
  
  
• Talk with your child about favorite authors and help him find additional books by those authors.
  
  
• Talk about the meaning of new words and ideas introduced in books. Help your child think of examples of new concepts.
  
  
• Take turns reading a story with your child. Don't interrupt to correct mistakes that do not change the meaning.
  
  
• Enjoy yourself and have fun when you're reading together. The most important thing you can do to help your child become a successful reader is to let him know that you enjoy and value reading.

Setting a good example as a parent, by reading every day at home is so important. Even if it is a magazine or newspaper, it will be noticed. Make reading fun. It should be a time you both look forward to spending together. Enjoy.