Bring Books to Life with Interactive Reading
When children are actively part of the storytelling experience, it helps their brains to develop and prepares them to read independently later. And they like it better!
So when you read with your children, try asking them questions that will help them to think about the story and relate the stories to their life experiences.
The best questions don’t have one right answer. Ask questions that prompt your child to think about the story and express an opinion. Doing this helps children to practice language, develop bigger vocabularies, and develop a love of books and reading aloud together.
Read Early, Read Often
November is Family Literacy Month and a perfect time for families to adopt daily reading habits with their children. Reading aloud to your child regularly helps him or her prepare to read later. It builds your child’s vocabulary and attention span, teaches your child names, shapes, and sounds of letters, can increase your child’s memory, and ignite her imagination and curiosity.
Reading aloud together every day is the most important thing you can do to help your child prepare for school. It’s never too early to start! Continue reading
Reading Tips for Children with Special Needs
We know that when parents read aloud with their children regularly, children’s vocabulary increases and they are more prepared for kindergarten. But for children with special needs or disabilities, reading together is not always so simple. The type of story, its illustrations, how the pages feel, or the way the story is told make a big difference.
To ensure children with special needs enjoy books and the positive experience reading with an adult brings, Ange Burnett, the Coordinator of the Contra Costa Child Care Council Inclusion Project, offers these tips:
1. Not all books are appropriate for all children. When you choose books to adapt, consider every part of that book, from color to content. Pay attention to the story theme and the illustrations. Look at the print size, book size, and even the texture of the cover or pages. Continue reading