Tips for reading aloud
- Have a regular story time each day or night,
for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Find a quiet place--turn off the TV and the
radio.
- Read the story to yourself first, when you can
-- knowing the story helps you to make the story more interesting to your
child.
- Take time to talk with your child about what
you read -- stories can start wonderful discussions.
- Babies and toddlers like bright colors and
simple pictures in picture books.
- Read nursery rhymes ( like Mother Goose) to
your child -- babies love the rhythm and nonsense of these poems.
- Hold you child in your lap while you read
aloud; older children can sit next to you. Hold the book so that the child
can see the pictures.
- Very young children have short attention spans
-- 5 or 10 minutes of reading aloud is probably enough. Older children can
sit still for 15 minutes or more.
- Older children often enjoy longer books. Read a
chapter each night, and begin by talking about what happened in last night's
chapter.
- Be willing to read the same book again and
again -- children often love to hear a favorite story many times over.
- Feel free to put a book down if you and your
child are not enjoying it -- reading should be fun for both of you.
- Ask you school librarian for books that are
best for your child's age and interests.
- Remember -- be a role model for your child. If
you enjoy reading, your child will realize that reading is fun!
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