Getting your kids excited about reading

Research suggests that reading aloud every day is one ofthe most important gifts we can give to our children. It’s the easiest and most effective way to turn them into lifelong readers and give them a leg up on the ladder of success. Not to mention, they love it!

I’ve been reading to my son since he was born. Today, at nine years of age, he loves to read on his own, yet still gets a kick out of hearing me read aloud to him. One of my favorite mommy moments happened one night after reading the usual bedtime story to him. He snuggled up and said, “Mom, you’re a really good reading teacher. I love when you read to me because I understand hard books better. I can really see what’s going on in the story.

”Reading aloud is a special time to bond and connect with your child because it fosters meaningful one-on-onecommunication. Listening to a story takes your child on an adventure where he/she can explore new places, discover new information, and meet new friends. When you read in a dramatic character voice, you help bring the story to life, draw your child into it, stir his/her curiosity and often generate interesting questions.

The ultimate goal of reading aloud is to motivate a child to read independently for pleasure, and inspire a lifelong enthusiasm for reading. When children witness their parents ramp up the fun factor while reading aloud, they are drawn into the magic world of the written word and will likely want to pick up a book to read on their own. Plant the seed early and your children will grow to appreciate the value and joy of reading.

Is your child too old to be read to? You might not have expected it, but older children, and even teenagers benefit when parents read aloud to them because it exposes them to interesting material that might be too difficult for them to read on their own.Vocabulary and reading skills will be honed as well. It may seem strange at first, but if you and your teen or pre-teen schedule a trial run at reading together, you may find that they appreciate the time you took out of your hectic schedule to enjoy a good book together. Start by selecting a silly book and sharing some laughs.

Winter Garden resident, Valerie McGowan, a third grade teacher and mother of three teenagers, believes that reading aloud to an older child promotes fluency, an interest in reading, and allows parents to spend some quality time with their youngster. The busy mom states that recently her 14 year old daughter had the flu. “I knew she was feeling miserable. I asked if she wanted me to read to her and she agreed,”Valerie says, surprised by the response. “I snuggled up with her, something I haven’t done in a long while, and read several chapters of the book she had been reading. It was comforting to her and brought back precious memories of past bedtime stories with my little girl.”

Experts agree that reading aloud enhances listening and reading comprehension. Reading non-fiction books to your children will contribute to their background knowledge and help them to better understand classroom textbooks and lessons. Research shows that it is not until the eighth grade that a student’s reading level catches up to his/her listening capacity. Until that time, most students are capable of hearing, understanding, and enjoying material far more advanced than what they could read on their own. Reading aloud makes complex ideas more accessible, exposes children to vocabularyand language patterns that are not part of everyday speech, and familiarizes them with the structure of the written word.

As a teacher, I’ve always encouraged parents to read to their children. Not surprisingly, many parents report that lackof time is the biggest stumbling blockto their efforts. That’s when I remind them that, if they value something, they usually can find the time. Reading aloud should bea priority. What seems towork best for my family is to stick to a bedtime ritual. It has become away for my son and me to decompress at the end of the day, and to look forward to another exciting adventure tomorrow!

Reading aloud is a simple, yet rewarding way to have fun! Your child will look forward to every moment you spend reading together. When you share your passion and plant the seed, you’ll be thrilled to see your child blossom into an avid reader.