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It’s never too early to help your child become a reader. Your child’s preschool years are the perfect time to encourage a lifelong fascination with books and develop a love of reading that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Between the ages of 3 & 5, it’s more important to teach your preschoolers to become captivated by books than it is to worry about developing the mechanics of reading. As parents, you can promote a love of reading by trying some of these great tips for new readers.
Tip 1 – Let your child choose books that interest them.
When your preschooler selects titles that seem interesting to them, they will be more likely to engage with and focus on the story at hand. Books that appeal to your child’s current interest help them to become excited about reading time.
Tip 2 – Read together often.
Using books to bond with your preschooler is a great way to make reading time special. Cuddle up on a comfortable couch or in your favorite reading nook and read to your child regularly. It’s important to remember that reading time should not be associated with a special treat such as when they finish dinner or complete a chore. When this activity becomes associated with rewards/punishments, it loses its appeal for young children. Although bedtime is often the most convenient time to read to your child, don’t forget about other opportunities like on a rainy Saturday morning, during breakfast, or even after lunchtime before they lay down for a nap.
Tip 3 – When reading, be interactive & ask open-ended questions.
When you read with humor and expression and engage your child in a discussion about what’s happening in the story, your child will actively listen. Questions about “why” or “how” can help promote reading comprehension which is an important aspect of learning to read.
Tip 4 – Don’t forget about the pictures.
Between the ages of 3 and 5, text will not be the main attraction. Preschool children are drawn to books with elaborate pictures, beautiful colors, and fun illustrations. Have your child point to things in the pictures and explain what they are or what the characters are doing. Discussing how a pictures relates to the story your reading encourages children to use the illustrations for clues about what each page says.
Tip 5 – Know that it’s OK to read the same story over and over again.
Preschools often want to hear their favorite books being read a hundred times over. Not only does reading the same book over again help support a number of literacy skills, the repetition also helps children begin to identify sight words and build brand new vocabulary.
Learning to read can happen just about anywhere. As you and your family drive in the car, go for a walk, take a trip to the grocery store, or visit your favorite restaurant, use this time to point out common words in the world around them such as “Stop” or “Kid’s”. These activities will help promote print awareness and encourage preschoolers to recognize words they see on a regular basis.
At Kids ‘R’ Kids, our award-winning curriculum and highly qualified staff work tirelessly to ensure our students develop a love for reading at an early age. From story time to active play, we encourage basic reading skills and a fascination with stories written and told. Give us a call if you’d like to learn more about our highly rated preschool programs today.