Take time for Reading

Reading. I always knew I was supposed to do it with my children. But, when they were babies, it felt so silly! Then, when my first was two, she would not sit for one anyway!! I also got very frustrated when she was three and asked questions while I was trying to finish the “task” of reading. I learned later, it is not important to finish a certain number of books but to read a certain amount of time. My 3-year-old had it right! Interactive reading was much more important than getting through the book! Some tips for making reading rewarding are:

· Read everywhere! Enjoy all different types of reading materials. Signs at the grocery store, labels, street signs, maps, in a book, newspaper, etc.
· Follow the cues and signals the child gives you. A little one may only be able to sit a few minutes. The important thing is that it is fun and rewarding. So, follow your child’s lead.
· Make reading interactive Babies – Where is the cow? There it is! The cow says mooo!” Older kids - ask questions or comment as you read, “What happened so far in book?”, “What is she feeling?” “She looks happy!” Point to the words and encourage your child to point to pictures and words as you read.
· Set aside reading time each day and fill that time. Build into a routine as a reward. For example, before bed, have child get on pajamas, brush teeth, and then read a book just before bed. If the child will not brush, you can say, “When you finish brushing, then we will read a book!” and they will be more likely to want to cooperate. It is simply the high-quality experience whether spent on one page or reading the whole book.

Don’t forget to have fun too! Add gestures, facial expressions, and actions to a picture or event in the story. You can even spontaneously interject songs in the middle of the book or read the words to a musical tune.

What are some of the challenges you have run into with reading to young children? Do you have other ideas for making reading fun and rewarding for both parent and adult?

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Excerpt from the May/June Rochester Women article, Extra Extra, Read All About It! available May 1.
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Raelene Ostberg is a PAIIR Parent Educator and Business Liaison with the Rochester Area Foundation. She is a working mother invested in bringing helpful information to working parents in the Rochester area.