The Power of Reading to Your Child

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Begin with the End in Mind!

If your child’s doctor told you that you could possibly prevent your child from ever having health problems in the future, what would you do? Would you jump at the chance?

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What about Reading?

• Research shows that reading TO your child is the single most important factor in contributing to his/her reading success.

• What are your current thoughts about

reading to your child/children?-quiz

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What in the World Do These Numbers Mean? Why are they important?

1

10

15

25

85

1000

Hint: Look out for and listen for these numbers

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What does the research tell us about reading in general?

• Reading is fundamental!• 85% of all learning relies on being able to read• The more a child reads, the better they

read.

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Hmmm…

So, I bet your question is “How will my child become a better reader if I am the one doing the reading?”

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Think About It…

“If we have to talk to children in order for them to learn to talk, what does that say about reading?”

- Mem Fox

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Let’s Brainstorm!

How might reading aloud to your child/children help them to become

better readers ?

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The Basics

Children have to understand the spoken word before they can read and understand the words in a book.

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The Connection of Reading to your Child and Language Development

• A child’s brain is only 25% developed at birth!• “The crucial connections that determine how

clever, creative and imaginative a child will be are already laid by the time a child turns 1.”

-Mem Fox

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The Connection of Reading to Your Child and Language Development-continued

• Reading to your child usually initiates conversation about the story and the pictures.

• You are able to help your child make connections to life experiences, otherstories and what may be happening

in the world.• You have the opportunity to

introduce your child to new vocabulary.

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Some of the Possibilities

• Your child will gain a sense of story and realize that meaning is the foundation for reading.

• You will introduce your child to book language.

Ex. “Once upon a time”, “They lived happily

ever after”.• Modeling will enable your child

to learn basic concepts about print (how books and print work).

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Reading to Your Child also Provides Optimal Opportunities for Developing Comprehension !

• Making Connections (relate the story/book to themselves, to other books, or events going on in the world)

• Making Predictions about what may

happen• Drawing Conclusions/Inferring• Retelling and Summarizing

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Other Benefits You May Have Not Considered…

• Reading aloud helps children acquire active listening skills

• Reading aloud aids in teaching children how to concentrate/build stamina

• Reading aloud helps children become

thinkers and problem solvers• Reading aloud helps children

learn to express their thoughts

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The Most Important Benefit

Developing a Connection and Bonding with your Child!!!

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So What Can You Do as a Parent?

• Begin reading to your child ASAP! • Read a variety of books. The types of books will

change over time (examples).• Make reading enjoyable!

– Consistent Routines-(15 minutes)– Relaxing and comfortable environment– Books that interests your child-Favorites– Organize into boxes or baskets

• Incorporate writing– Make books (photo album activities)

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What You Can Do as a Parent-cont

• Take your child to the library

-It is most beneficial if children have heard

1000 stories read aloud before learning to

read on their own!• Bring books to read on a car trip,

or let them hear books on tape.

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What You Can Do as a Parent-cont.

• Limit the time that your child spends playing video games and watching TV!Did you know that research shows that your

child should spend no more than 10 hours

per WEEK watching TV?

Research also shows that the more

a child watches TV, the less proficient

they become and grades often drop.

-Jim Trelease

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Some Reminders for an Effective Read Aloud Experience

• Always read the title, the author and illustrator and talk about the front of the book.

• Look at the pictures first to get an idea about the story before reading a book to your child for the first time.

• Point while you are reading.• Let your child turn the pages.• Talk about the story and the

pictures.

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Additional Reminders

• Ask questions while reading the book to make sure your child is understanding the story.

• Look for opportunities to play little games with the stories/book to teach concepts.

• Have a discussion about the book

at the end…but don’t quiz them.• Help them build connections with

real life experiences.

Make it FUN!

• Read in different character voices• Sound expressive and change your speech to fast

or slow for dramatic effects• Make sure you grab your child’s

attention on the first line/page• Don’t act as a teacher, but an

entertainer instead• If a book has been made into a

movie, go watch it together04/19/23 21

What is the Payoff?

It conditions the child to associate reading with pleasure. If they associate reading with pleasure, they will more than likely choose to read on their own. If they choose to read on their own, they will likely become a successful

reader. If they become a successful

reader, they will probably be a

successful student. And if they

become a successful student, imagine

what they can become!!!

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Don’t Believe Me?

“ Research shows that students who read the most-read the best, achieve the most, and stay in school the longest REGARDLESS of race,

sex, nationality or socioeconomic

background." -Jim Trelease

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A World of Endless Possibilities…

The more you read the more things you will know. The more that you learn the more places you’ll go.

--Dr. Seuss04/19/23 24