Reading with children is important. It helps develop vocabulary, sense of story and sequence, introduces them to the world of books, and expands their knowledge and interests.
My youngest reader are getting so big--and developing their favorite books.
Daisybell
Her favorites are The Runaway Bunny and Goodnight Moon! Or at least that's what I read to her this week.
Winter and River Look at these faces!
This little one (above) is five years old today!
This one is starting to read for herself!
Kayden and Kameron
Kameron took off walking at 10 months!
Kam looks like he's ready for a good crime drama story--maybe Hawaii 5 0
The cool thing? None of my little readers are too young to read to and none are too old. Why? Well, I'm going to share my feelings on that. They may ramble a bit as I am making them up as I go :)
Because reading gives children a sense of story. This happens first, this happens second, and so on. They start to realize that things happen chronologically and stories have a beginning, middle, and end.
Stories help them understand their own feelings. They can begin to relate to the characters in the story and develop empathy for them as well as being able to put a name to their own feelings.
Stories help develop vocabulary. Don't worry about those few words your child doesn't know, she'll figure them out from context or the illustrations. A child who is read to learns new words as well as how to put them together in sentences.
A child can expand his knowledge of the world around him through stories. He can be introduced to new ideas and places.
Stories allow for bonding time. Whether it's first thing in the morning or the last moments of the day, used reading as shared time. There's nothing quite like discovering a new favorite story or author together.
And don't stop reading to your child when he's old enough to read for himself. Your child’s listening ability is much higher than his reading ability. You can read books to him that he would not be able to read for himself. Having you read to him allows him to relax and listen to the story without having to sound out or look up words.
From Goodnight Moon to Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to the Little House on the Prarie books or Charlotte's Web, take the time to read aloud to your child today.
What are some of your favorite read aloud books?