Reading to your young child is one of the best things you can do to help them develop essential learning skills and foster a lifelong love of books. But how should parents and caregivers go about it? What are the best ways to get the most out of the experience? Here are five tips to set you and your children on your way, with a little help from The Children’s Trust Book Club.
1. Who Should Read to Your Child? All young children benefit from being read to, and it doesn’t just have to be the parents. Caregivers, older siblings, and anyone close to the child can help by reading to kids. The science is clear: the interaction between a child and an adult during reading time enhances language development, literacy skills and emotional bonding. The more voices and perspectives a child hears, the richer their learning experience will be. So, make reading a shared family activity where everyone gets involved and contributes to the child’s development.
2. Where to Read? An article on the Brain Balance website entitled, “Best Reading Spot for Kids,” recommended a quiet environment with minimal distractions to enhance focus and comprehension. It also encouraged your child’s reading area to balance a fun and inviting atmosphere with a serious workspace that encourages quiet activity. Comfortable furniture like soft bean bags or swing chairs can make reading sessions more enjoyable. Finally, it suggested choosing a location away from distractions like televisions or busy areas to ensure the child’s attention remains on the book.
3. When to Read? While there’s no wrong time to read to your kids, Scholastic.com gives ideas on how to bring reading and books into your daily routines with your child to make it a consistent and enjoyable habit. While running errands bring along a book and see how you can relate the subject to the world around you. The Children’s Trust Book Club’s reading guides often have suggestions on how to connect reading with your outside world, so be on the lookout for those ideas.
Picture books work in many environments, including while shopping, at the park, at a doctor’s office and more. Of course, one of the most common times to read to your child is before nap time or bedtime, when it not only serves as a calming ritual but also enhances vocabulary and empathy. Reading during all these times helps children associate reading with different parts of their day, making it a natural and enjoyable activity.
4. What Kind of Books to Read? Select books that are appropriate for your child’s age and developmental stage. While finding the right book for the right age of your baby could be a lot of work, The Children’s Trust Book Club makes it easy by offering free, age-appropriate books in English or Spanish, ensuring your child receives engaging and educational material best suited to their age and development. The book selection includes classics, award-winners, and picture books designed to engage even the youngest “readers.” All books are specifically chosen to help children develop their early reading skills for school readiness and, of course, for maximum enjoyment with their families.
5. How to Read? To maximize the benefits of reading, engage your child with interactive techniques. Use different voices for characters, ask questions about the story, and encourage your child to predict what will happen next. Connect the story to the outside world by relating events in the book to real-life experiences. The Children’s Trust Book Club offers reading guides and activity sheets with each book, providing parents with creative ideas to make reading sessions more interactive and enjoyable. The most important aspect is to be present and show your love and enthusiasm for reading, as this positive association will stay with your child for a lifetime.
By following these tips, you can create a rich and rewarding reading experience that nurtures your child's development and instills a lifelong love of books. For more information, support and resources visit TheChildrensTrust.org/BookClub, where you can also sign up your child to become a member.