If you are a parent of young children, you may be wondering about the role reading should play in your child’s daily routine. Most kids don’t become independent readers until they reach elementary school, but the building blocks for reading are laid early in life. So earlier is definitely better when it comes to establishing beneficial reading behaviors. If you want to know how you can foster good reading habits in your little one, Red Apple Reading has some helpful hints!
READ EARLY
It is never too early to begin reading to your child. In fact, pediatricians are now recommending that parents read to their newborn children. When parents read aloud to their infants, great things happen:
- Your baby enjoys hearing your voice and having a cuddle. Eventually he will begin to associate reading with these things and consequently develop positive feelings about books!
- Even though he may not initially understand what you are saying, your baby is being exposed to language sounds. This exposure is crucial for speech acquisition and eventually reading.
Keep the following things in mind when reading to your infant:
- Babies learn about their world by exploring it orally so books should be made of durable material (think board, plastic, or cloth) and easy to clean. When reading material is baby-friendly, mom doesn’t have to worry about her little one tearing pages or ruining the book with drool!
- Simple is best. Begin with books that have just a few words per page and an interesting picture.
READ REGULARLY
- Set aside a time dedicated solely to reading each day. Little ones can flip through their favorite books and recall the story or parents can read aloud to them.
- Consider creating an inviting reading space for your child. A small bookshelf or basket filled with age appropriate books along with a comfy chair transforms a corner into a welcoming reading nook! This transformation will make reading time a more appealing prospect for your kiddo.
- Get into the habit of reading a bedtime story to your child. Not only does this help establish good reading habits, but it also helps her wind down and settle in for bed.
READ AND PLAY
Little children learn best through play, so make sure to have literacy-friendly toys and manipulatives on hand. Here are some ideas:
- ABC Blocks
- Letter magnets for the refrigerator
- Cookie cutters in the shape of letters to be used with Playdough.
- Letters cut from old magazines can to be used for collages
As your kiddo plays with letters he will become familiar with them and learn to identify them.
READ YOURSELF
It’s important for little ones to not only be read to, but to also see the adults in their lives reading! If Mommy and Daddy are sitting down and reading a book, newspaper, or magazine, it must be a good thing to do!
It’s never too early to start laying a strong foundation for reading. In fact, the earlier parents begin establishing healthy reading habits, the more likely they are to raise an enthusiastic and successful reader. You may want to consider an online reading program to help your little one improve her reading skills. Red Apple Reading is designed for children ages 3-8. It teaches phonics, phonemic awareness, sight words, vocabulary, fluency and reading comprehension. Get started today with our free 7 day trial. You’ll soon discover that Red Apple Reading is serious learning that’s seriously fun!
