READING TIPS

Choose books you enjoy and your enthusiasm will spread to your child. Familiarize yourself with rhymes and recurring lines that appear in stories.

Mem Fox in Reading Magic writes:
“The ideal three stories a day are one favorite, one familiar, and one new; but the same book three times is also fine.” 

Don’t be afraid to use distinctive voices for characters in stories.
Be dramatic—your child will love it.

Occasionally read challenging books aloud. This will enrich your child’s vocabulary.

Talk about the book and the possibilities of the story.  

Routine is an important factor—try to read daily. Give your child time to settle down and prepare for listening.

If your child begins to get restless, edit the story as you go.
Summarize longer parts and linger on exciting episodes.

Remember, you don’t have to finish every book. If your child isn’t enjoying the book, try reading a different one.

Keep on reading aloud as your child gets older. Take turns reading aloud and find time for sharing and discussion. 

Share what you are reading, as appropriate, to show your love and interest in reading.

Talk together about some of these:

• Cover art and title
• Author and illustrator
• Size and shape of book
• End pages (inside cover)
• Who is it dedicated to?
• Interesting words
• Characters
• Pictures
• Humorous or interesting parts

  By reading a story more than once, a child may notice something new. Children have an easier time picking up the concepts of the story when it is read repeatedly.