The holidays are coming to a close, the relatives are gone, and the last of the wrapping paper and boxes are on the curb. So put on the tea kettle, wrap up in that new throw blanket and get lost in a good book…with your kids!
According to Scholastic, reading with your child for 20 minutes a day can help build vocabulary, literacy skills, and listening comprehension as well as spark their imagination.
Here are some suggestions for techniques that I use with my children:
- Always read the title, author and illustrator of the book.
- Let them turn the pages by giving them a signal. I say “beep.”
- Occasionally, point to the words as you read. This shows them that text goes from left to right and lets them see the words as they hear them.
- Ask questions that require more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.
- Make predictions by asking, “What do you think happens next?”
- Have fun with dialog (my favorite part of reading to my kids)! Make up silly voices for the characters and make them come alive for your child.
- Re-read!! If they ask, and they will, read it again. Repetition is a great tool for the early reader.
Try these picture books for some fireside snuggling: The Mitten and Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, Owl Moon by Jane Yolan, and Snow Crazy by Tracy Gallup. So, when the weather outside is frightful, reading together is so delightful!
Mary Eileen Oakes is a NYS Certified Special Educator and reading tutor who is currently a stay-at- home mom. For more information, visit www.thestorychair.blogspot.com. She can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 914-260-6033.
