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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