Reading to Your Child

One of the best ways to increase your child's receptive and expressive language skills is by reading to him.  I started reading to my first child during his first week.  It made such a difference in his talking, listening, and preliteracy skills.  Also, research shows that strong verbal (talking) skills are linked to good literacy (reading) skills. This blog will focus on some of the skills I use when reading with my clients 10 years and younger.  

·         Cover of the book-

o   make sure the child can see the cover of the book

o   Say the title and one or two things about the picture

o   With older children (4 years and up), I might say, "This book might be about ........ This is done so children can start making inferences or guess what the story will be about by using the title or picture. 

·         Start reading the pages of the story

o   Your child should be able to see the pictures

o   Talk about the pictures-who's in it, what they are doing, where the story is taking place

o   When reading sentences, read slowly

o   Occasionally, say your child's name when reading.  For example, "The caterpillar had to eat the leaf on the seventh day Charlie."

o   Have your child turn the pages

o   For older children, either you or your child can move your finger along the words

o   Try to alter your voice for each character in the story

·         For each page of the story, make sure you point out something different that is occurring

o   Ask questions as you read

§  "What will happen next?

§  "Did she lose her ball?"

·         Point out parts of the story (beginning, middle, and end)

o   For older children, talk about what happened during each section of the book as you read and after the story is complete.  This works on sequencing skills and information needed to retell a story, which are targeted in the classroom daily.