Are you a new parent? Are you ready to begin this marvelous journey? You know you want to do what is right for your child.
One of the things that will bring joy and success to your little one as he or she grows is a love of reading. Reading is the key to all knowledge.
When I was an elementary school teacher I loved helping my students learn to read. Trust me, watching a child’s eyes light up when he or she realizes they have read a page all by them self is a blast!
Some kids picked it up faster than other. Some became discouraged if they did not seem to do as well as their peers. The children who had parents who encouraged reading in the home from a young page were the kids who had the earliest successes.
When you love something it is more fun to do it. The more kids read the better they get at reading. Success breeds success. Parents can do much to start their preschoolers of on the road to success.
Here are 3 tips I like to give new parents to help them develop a passion for reading in their kids.
1. BEGIN READING ON DAY ONE:
Start reading to them the day you bring them home form the hospital. (I would suggest you start in the hospital but really the extra 24 -48 hours will not a difference and new parents should use that time to rest while they can!)
Babies love to hear the sound of our voices. Even when they are too young to see the pictures being held and being read to is a comforting experience. Who can forget the scene in the movie about 3 men raising a baby when Tom Sellack reads a sports article about an exciting but violent boxing match?
2. READ EVERYTHING, EVERY WHERE:
Don’t just read to them before bed! Think of how many times we read something every day. How many of us have read the back of the toothpaste tube as we sit on the potty in the morning. (How many moms are ever alone in the bathroom? Read to them while you sit. Been there, done that!)
Every moment can be a teachable moment. When you cook you read recipes. When you drive you read signs. You read the schedule on the TV to see what is available to watch! (Imagine that we even read the TV!) You read boxes, signs and price tags as you shop. You read laundry labels to see if can put something in the dryer. Start reading out loud and showing your child what you are reading so they develop a curiosity about reading and want to be like you and read.
3. RAISE A READING ADDICT:
Reading to your baby daily is a wonderful habit to get into. Remember the more children read the better they get at reading. By starting a daily reading habit at birth you are setting they up for lifelong success.
Before you put them down in the crib set with them in your lap in a chair and READ. Continue the practice of reading each night as long as possible, as they become toddlers begin letting them choose appropriate books. Climb into their bed on a cold night snuggle up and read, eventually you can introduce small chapter books.
These are just a few ways to help your child develop reading skills and a passion for reading that will help them to be successful in whatever they choose to do. I’ve implemented these tips with my own son and nephews, with marvelous results. There are lots of fun ideas to keep kids reading. If you have an idea that has worked for you please leave a comment so we can all enjoy it! Remember successful reader become successful learners! Successful learners will help save the world!
Anne Green
Reader, Educator, Publisher
Anne was born into a family of readers and has a degree in Elementary Education for the State University of New York at New Paltz. She lives with her husband and son in Ontario and publishes Mississauga Kids an online resource for families featuring Mississauga Private Schools, Tutors, After School Activities and great articles for parents from anywhere!
