Reading aloud with your children is vital for their development. On its website, the organization Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) lists some of the benefits children receive when read to regularly.
“Reading aloud to children is vital because it helps them acquire the information and skills they need in life,” the organization states. Those needs include:
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Knowledge of printed letters and words, and the relationship between sound and print.
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The meaning of words.
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Information about how books work and a variety of writing styles.
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Knowledge of the world in which they live.
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The difference between written language and everyday conversation.
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The pleasure of reading.
The organization goes on to state that “reading to young children promotes language acquisition and literacy development and, later on, achievement in reading comprehension and overall success in school."
For families raising Jewish children, the PJ Library program is a great opportunity. By signing up to receive free books, families enlist to surround themselves with high-quality children’s literature.
Parenting Magazine provides additional ideas for raising a book-loving child. In the article, “Raising a Reader,” the editors make suggestions for various reading levels. Among the suggestions are:
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Making Books Accessible — "Keep a bag filled with stories in the car to read to your toddler when you're, say, waiting for your older child after school."
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Reacting to the Story — "Pause to point out pictures, or note similarities between the book and your child's life (i.e., 'That little kitten looks exactly like Grandma's!').
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Letting the Child Read (or Pretend to Read) — "Many kids memorize books before they can actually read," the editors write. "Even if she hasn't committed a story to memory, she might still be able to describe what's happening on the page."
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Not Correcting — "Don't interrupt if he mispronounces a word or spells it out incorrectly," says Parenting Magazine. "Instead, wait until he finishes, then say, 'Did that word make sense? Let's take another look.'"
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Continuing to Read Aloud — Just because a child is old enough to entertain him or herself with a book, that doesn't mean you should stop reading together. "Even children who can already read on their own appreciate the chance to simply listen."
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June 19, 2011