These 5 Tips Will Help You Rock Out
640 words
by Michele Ranard, M.Ed.

Read aloud with your kids. A lot. Not only does reading allow your child to experience different types of language, rhythm, and sounds, it informs them on topics they wouldn’t otherwise learn about, it’s calming, and it’s a wonderful way to BOND.

We all know we need to be reading more with our kids, but it’s so much easier to throw in a DVD and come up with excuses when we’re short on time and patience. But what if we equated reading with our kids to becoming a rockstar? Literacy expert and author, Nicola Morgan, says reading to your child is the single most valuable thing you can do.

Excuses and Tips to Make You a Star

THE EXCUSE: “I’m not good at reading aloud.”

Wrong. Nicola says you don’t have to be a good reader. The fact you may be a slow reader might actually be more beneficial to your child! She’ll hear the words clearly.

*Tip #1: This is no time to be a shy performer, mamas and papas. Select fun to read books, especially ones with repetitive phrases so kids can begin to join in and finish your sentences. Read with feeling and emotion. Pause in areas for children to anticipate what comes next. Be crazy dramatic! Think of connections outside of the story and relate them to what you’re reading.

THE EXCUSE: “My baby’s too young for books.”

No, she’s not. Focusing on pictures develops eye muscles, and each time babies hear a word, it becomes anchored more securely in their brains.

*Tip # 2: Board books rock. Have lots of board books on hand and in the toy box. Brightly illustrated books without words are great for you to make up stories or point to objects and repeat vocabulary. Let toddlers and preschoolers dream up and recite their own story about the pictures to you. They also find great pleasure in turning the pages. Take them to story hour at the library or the bookstore.

THE EXCUSE: “I’m too strapped for time.”

Many parents can’t see how they can possibly squeeze more reading into their busy lives. But it’s too important to skip. Research shows that preschoolers who are exposed to lots of books and conversation perform better in school.

*Tip # 3: Books pay off ‘Time After Time.’ Make reading with your child a routine. Instead of watching TV at bedtime or rest time, grab a book. Develop a habit of stopping at the library regularly—maybe every time you go to the grocery store or every Saturday morning.

THE EXCUSE: “My child is already an excellent reader.”

*Tip #4: A love for literacy (like a love for music) is an everlasting love. As parents, we need to keep encouraging older kids to read. With older children, read books together—you’ll be surprised how much joy this can bring to you both. Sometimes tweens get temporarily turned off to reading and forget the magic they’re missing. Read the latest books made into films so you can discuss discrepancies and casting choices.

THE EXCUSE: “I get tired of nagging.”

*Tip #5: Be more than a broken record—model reading for them. If you set an example and allow your kids to catch you reading—even if it’s a magazine—you’ll be setting the stage for compliance. We all watch too much television, especially just before bed, and quiet time reading is a much wiser way to unwind.

As literacy expert Nicola Morgan says, “If something isn’t fun, children won’t do it. And they have BRILLIANT ways of avoiding what they don’t want to do: such as pretending they can’t. Or making you feel guilty. If your child doesn’t enjoy it, he won’t try. If he finds it hard, he will think he is not good at it. Your job is to make it fun and easy.”

Michele Ranard is a professional counselor/tutor who is passionate about helping students become better readers. She is a freelancer with a cheeky blog at hellolovelychild.blogspot.com.

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TIPS FROM NICOLA FOR HELPING YOUR CHILD

READ A LOT! Lots of stories, poems and rhymes. Let him see your finger following the text. Ask questions about the story and pictures. Let him join in where possible. Children are never too old to enjoy and benefit from listening to written language.

DISCUSS BOOKS. Talk - and listen to your child, even when the question is one you've heard a million times.

PRAISE. Praise your child at every opportunity. The more he feels successful, the more he'll want to practise; and the better he'll get.

CHILL OUT. Don't transfer any worries onto your child. Be relaxed. Have fun!

PLAN AHEAD. Don't work when one of you is tired, hungry or bored.

Resources:

Nicola Morgan. The Child Literacy Centre. www.childliteracy.com.