| Reading to your children is probably the most | | | | alliteration (words begin with the same sounds) and |
| important activity you can do with them. There are | | | | other concepts. Reading time will also expand their |
| so many benefits gained from this time shared. The | | | | vocabulary as well as their concept of story |
| benefits include fun and bonding, language and literacy | | | | structure. |
| skills, story structure and story elements. | | | | Over time your children will have a knowledge base |
| When reading with your child make it enjoyable and | | | | of story structure. All stories have a beginning, middle |
| fun. Choose a book that you will enjoy reading to | | | | and end. Ask them what happened in the beginning |
| your child. It is a good idea to let them pick the book. | | | | of the story - the middle? and the end? Retelling |
| This will make it more exciting for them but it also | | | | stories or parts of stories is a landmark in their |
| needs to be one you will enjoy reading. If you're not | | | | reading development just as knowledge of story |
| into the book your child will see and feel your lack of | | | | elements. |
| enthusiasm. This will not promote a love of reading. | | | | The more literature children are exposed to will help |
| Why not share one of your childhood favorites? | | | | them build concepts and understand story elements. |
| When reading be dramatic. Use various voices for | | | | They will begin to pay attention to elements such as |
| different characters. Bring the story to life! This will | | | | characters, plot and setting. Talk about this with |
| be a good model for when your child starts reading | | | | them. Many stories for young children have animals as |
| independently. They will also use inflection. This time | | | | characters which children love. |
| you share will be fun, bring you closer together and | | | | While bonding and enjoying "story time", you are |
| boost language and literacy skills. | | | | building so many concepts and skills that will benefit |
| It doesn't matter how young your child is, acquisition | | | | your child. If your child conquers reading skills they will |
| of language and literacy skills will help them develop in | | | | have an easier time at school! |
| a timely manner. In the beginning, just hearing the | | | | If your child is struggling, this time at home should |
| language and sounds is important to their | | | | greatly improve their knowledge, skills and |
| development. This bonding time will help them acquire | | | | performance at school. |
| reading skills. They will hear various sounds and the | | | | Fast track your child's road to reading independently |
| repetition of sounds and eventually connect them | | | | and being successful at school by sharing reading |
| with letters. Children will also begin to notice rhymes, | | | | time. Start young and watch them blossom! |