Tips on Reading with Children

Reading with children can be an educational and fun experience for everyone involved. You may find that reading books together is a great way to bond with your child while helping boost their development. Sometimes, it’s not the easiest task, so here are some tips on how to make reading with children a bit less complicated.

Read together every day!

Starting a routine of reading every day, whether it be for 5 minutes or 30, can help children identify a pattern that they get used to. Choose a specific time to read and make it part of your day’s routine, such as after dinner or before bedtime. This can be such a warm and loving moment shared between you and your child!

Interact with your children during reading time.

Interaction is key to having an engaging reading time. One way to boost engagement and keep their attention is by talking about what's happening in the book. You can also point to things on the page and ask questions. Pointing out pictures and words in the book can also help in developing their minds and can get them to ask questions.

Call things by their name.

Reading time is a great developmental tool to boost your child’s learning experience. When reading, you should call things by their name to help develop and expand your child’s vocabulary, especially when it comes to interesting or unfamiliar words and objects. For example: “Look at that plane! Those are the plane’s wings. What are the plane’s wings for? What other parts does an airplane have?” This takes the reading experience the extra step and will make sure they are listening and understanding what you’re reading.

Ask questions that generate critical thinking and conversations.

- What do you think?

- Where do you think he/she will go next?

- Which one did you like the most?

- How would you have done it?

- Why do you think he/she didn’t turn off the light?

Add emotions! Add humor!

Bring out your inner actor/actress! Reading with emotion makes the story come alive for children and helps keep them engaged in the activity. Laugh together at the book’s silly jokes. It can also make reading time much more fun for you!

By making reading exciting and showing your children that it is important in their lives, you are setting them up for success in school AND life. The more time you spend reading with them during this vital period of developmental growth comes with tons of benefits. Give these tips a try. You won't regret it.