There was a recent article in The Los Angeles Times explaining why it's important to read aloud to kids. You can read the whole article here. The research concludes that ...."the critical place that literacy develops is the home, not the school," and "... the crucial intervention period is very early in the life of a child." What parents can do to help their children is read to them. A lot. And don't stop when they learn to read - keep doing it! So, how do you know what to choose? Here are some suggestions:- Ask a librarian! The old-fashioned way still works. Bring your children to the library often, and don't hesitate to ask for help.
- Use good online resources. On the Library's website, for instance, are lots of booklists, including one of classic read-alouds. Take a look here.
- Trust the pros. Use recommendations by authorities such as Jim Trelease. He has a number of read-aloud books you can reserve here. His website's also useful.
The best part of reading aloud to kids is that it's as much fun for the adults as the kids. And it will go a long way toward developing their literary skills.
1 comment:
I absolutely agree with the importance of reading aloud to children. My memories of being read to as a child led me to want to be a writer of children's books. I can remember being transported to other places and times as I listened to the story unfolding.
What better way is there to bond with your child than to sit together and share a book?
Don't forget to put plenty of emotion in the reading and take time to ask the child questions to ensure they are thinking about what you are reading. These are precious moments in a child's life.
Shari Lyle-Soffe
http://www.rooterandsnuffle.blogspot.com
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