Encouraging Young Children to Read

Danielle Steele books, Family Circle, Women’s Day and Newsweek magazines as well as the Sunday newspaper are how I am pretty sure I obtained my love of reading. 

I have few memories of being read to by my parents as a child, but growing up, I always found my mom’s latest Danielle Steele book on the coffee table or her night stand. 

She loved thumbing through magazines to read the articles and digest and cut out interesting recipes.  She was such a great reading role model.   

Whatever was in those Danielle Steele books, I couldn’t wait to be old enough to find out; she read them with such speed. 

In her free time, my mom was always reading; not tuned into television. That sent a message to me that reading was very important. Modeling the behavior you want to see in your children is one way to encourage your children to read. 

The only requirement needed for my son to obtain his own library card was that he could sign his name. Until then, I took out huge stacks of picture books for him. 

Make visiting your local library a fun weekly or monthly family activity. Many libraries offer story times and other programs during the week, but if you aren’t able to make those, have your own story time at the library when you are there.

Children love choosing their own books, and libraries are set up to support the growing reader by providing sections of books for babies to preschoolers and beyond. The best thing about using your local library is it’s free.

The in Montville has a marvelous children's section, stuffed with books for all ages. After a flood a couple years ago, the basement section was completely redone, and is bright and fun and a joy to visit.

Reading aloud to your child is one of the best forms of reading encouragement.  As your child grows from a baby to a toddler, your read-aloud style should change. 

First and foremost, always read the title, author and illustrator of every book you read. This teaches your child that real people write the words and draw the pictures in the books they are reading. Once  you're inside a story, begin to ask your child to point out things on the pages such as particular animals or cars, colors and objects. 

Ask your child to recall sounds that the animals make or where the story takes place. Reading the same book over and over might be a drag for you, but it’s this repetition that is helping your child to read or get a great head start.

After several readings of a favorite book, children will begin to chime in with frequently repeated phrases such as the page in "Goodnight Moon," where the Old Lady whispers, “hush” or where, in "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," the Troll roars “Who’s that tripping over my bridge?” .   

Choosing a vast variety of books to have in your personal library or book basket, like we had, is essential. 

Picture books, lift the flap books, touch and feel books, books that make noise (if you can stand it or at least until the battery runs out), big books and tiny books, hardcover, paperback, board books and cloth books give your child a smorgasbord of reading material. 

Once you have a reader on your hands, let them show off!  Allow them to read to you at night or even take turns reading.  They read a page and then you read a page.  Both of you now are fully engaged in the reading aloud process.   

Ask what they are reading about. Retelling any story is a great skill and shows comprehension and understanding. They might just turn the question around on you and ask what you are reading about! I’ve had it happen!!

I found some pencils the other day while cleaning out one of my cabinets that said, “Readers are Leaders!” You are the reader and the leader that is going to make a reader and future leader out of your own child.  Keep on reading!

Children’s book recommendation:  "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats.