Encouraging early childhood literacy
This summer, I witnessed my 19-year old daughter, home from college, plow through the entire Harry Potter series (yet again), and I listened as she sobbed through the sad parts and read to me (albeit rather loudly, so I could hear her from her bedroom one door down the hall) her favorite passages.
She would emerge from her room red-eyed. “Let me guess — Dumbledore died,” I’d say. She’d nod her head sadly and head into the bathroom to blow her nose with thunderous force. And then I’d tear up, too, because one of the most important efforts her father and I brought forth upon her upbringing was to impart a love of the written word. And look at that — it worked!
I mentioned one night at dinner that I’d be writing a piece about the importance of reading to a child early and often. She nodded her head and agreed. “I remember,” she said, “that one time I wanted you to read to me before bed. But you told me it was too late and there would be no book that night. I remember I cried and cried into my pillow.” Wow. Who would think something like that would be such a fierce memory? And then her dad chimed in, directing his comments toward me as well, perhaps to deflect. “I think I did a better job with the character voices. Your voices all sounded weird. Mine were much more superior in tone and inflection.” And so the family discussion went as we needled and picked at each other in a most loving but competitive way … but at its base was that important nugget.
Time well spent
“One of the best predictors of reading success is the amount of time children spend engaged in reading,” says Megan Riede, Senior Director, Education Programs for KinderCare Learning Centers. “Reading aloud to children provides them with an opportunity to learn stories they hear and to develop critical literacy skills. Just a few minutes each day sharing a story or part of a book with your child can increase interest in reading and benefit their future reading success.”
Well, amen to that, sister. I’m sad that Hanna never dug Nancy Drew mysteries the way I did, but by the time she was 14, she was reading Lord of the Flies. And To Kill a Mockingbird. And a whole bunch of Darren Shan Cirque du Freak books. So, what started with This is Me at age 1 and about 10 durable pages continued into something in the area of over 4000 beloved pages this summer.
Continues Reide, “There is much you can do to develop your child’s reading skills and set the stage for a lifelong love of books and learning. During the school year, create a reading routine with your school-aged child, a toddler, or even infant. Show your child reading is a year-round activity by making reading fun and interesting, and chances are, he or she will be eager to read on his or her own.”
Below are some ideas, provided by Reide, to help set you on the path of spirited family arguments about who chose the best read-aloud books, why Hatchet by Gary Paulsen resonates no matter how many times it is read, and why Snow Treasure, set during World War II in which Norwegian children smuggled gold past the Nazis, is not just a book about kids on sleds, but a story of patriotism and courage.
Tips for tots and beyond
Perhaps the best way to encourage your budding reader is by reading to him or her on a regular basis. These tips can help you make the most of the time you spend reading:
Make reading a relaxed and fun activity. Try to minimize distractions. Turn off the television and consider asking other family members to take phone messages for you.
Establish a routine time and place for reading.
Invite your child to sit close as you read so he or she can see the illustrations and turn the pages.
Ask your child to select the book or books to be read. Frequent trips to the library will give your child an opportunity to select new and different books.
Be prepared to read and reread the same books over and over. Children love repetition; when a book is well known or the story is familiar, children delight in their ability to “read” the book to or with others.
Read the books with expression. For example, alter your voice for different characters or become more animated during exciting parts of the story.
As you read, pause periodically to ask questions about the text to help your child develop comprehension skills. For example, “What happened to the snowball that the boy put in his pocket?”
When reading a book for the first time, build upon your child’s imagination by reading the book’s title and asking your child what the story might be about prior to reading it.
Illustrations give additional layers of meanings to books. Ask your child to share his or her thoughts about the illustrations as you read books together, for example, “The book says the dog is very, very happy. Does he look happy to you? How can you tell?”
For infants and toddlers, board books with vivid colors and illustrations can be a nice introduction to a lifelong love of reading.
By striving to become a “reading model” for your child, you can demonstrate through your own actions that reading is important to you. Allow your child to see you regularly reading the mail or the newspaper, magazines or professional journals, or your favorite novels — and you may begin to plant the seeds that encourage a lifelong love of reading — and Harry Potter, of course.
