A Note To Parents

Reading Aloud with Your Child

Research shows that reading books aloud is the single most valuable support parents can provide in helping children learn to read.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Be a ham! The more enthusiasm you display, the more your child will enjoy the book.
• Run your finger underneath the words as you read to signal that the print carries the story.
• Leave time for examining the illustrations more closely; encourage your child to find things in the pictures.
• Invite your youngster to join in whenever there's a repeated phrase in the text.
• Link up events in the book with similar events in your child's life.
• If your child asks a question, stop and answer it. The book can be a means to learning more about your child's thoughts.

The above is credited to Priscilla Lynch, Ph.D., New York University, Educational Consultant.