Reading

The best part about reading aloud is that you don't need any special tools or a lot of money − it's just you, your child, and a book!

Tips for Reading Aloud:

Baby

• Read just a few pages at a time. Babies have short attention spans so it's okay to put the book aside when your child loses interest.
• Choose brightly colored board books that have pictures of familiar objects, like toys or animals.
• Pick board books that have pop-up characters, different textures to feel, flaps to lift, and holes where kids can poke their fingers through.
• Cuddling while you read helps your baby feel safe, warm, and connected to you.

Toddler

• Read the same stories over and over again so your child can start making connections between words and pictures.
• Encourage your child to turn the book's pages.
• Ask your child to name what's in the picture or what will happen next.
• Change your voice to match different characters or the action that's taking place in the story.
• Let your child choose the book that she wants you to read.

Preschooler

• Have your child follow along by moving your finger under the words as you read.
• Encourage your child to sound out simple words and phrases with you.
• Ask your kids which character they like best or what they think is going to happen next in the story.
• Make up a different ending to the story.
• Extend reading time by doing a related activity together, like drawing a picture that describes the story.

Try to set aside time to read every day − perhaps before naptime and bedtime. Also look for opportunities to read on-the-go to make reading part of your child's everyday routine. Children will better understand their surroundings if you read the world around them.

Ways to Make Reading Part of Your Kid's Daily Life:

• Read your shopping list with your child and ask him to help you find the items.
• Read the food labels on everything from soup cans to cereal boxes.
• Read road signs and billboards when you're out driving.
• Bring books with you wherever you go. Keep a few books in your diaper bag to fill time waiting at the doctor's office or a bus stop.
• Arrange day trips related to a book you just read. For example, if your child enjoyed a story about fire trucks, take a trip to your local fire station.
• Visit your local library often and encourage your child to get a free library card. Many libraries offer activities for kids, including free story times.

Reading touches upon every area of our lives. It helps us do well in school and later succeed at our jobs. Reading's also a great way to keep learning and growing long after you finish school! Instilling a love of reading in your child is one of the best gifts you can give them.

Ways to Inspire a Lifelong Love of Reading:

• Be a reading role model. Let your child see you reading often for pleasure.
• Show your child that reading can be fun by planning a family book night where you read jokes and riddles.
• Fill a toy bin or bottom of a bookshelf with kid-friendly books and coloring pages to make them easy for your child to find.
• If you have more than one child, ask the older kids to read to the younger ones. The older children will be proud to show off their skills while the younger ones will want to read just like their older brothers or sisters.
• Limit the amount of TV the whole family watches. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than one to two hours a day of quality TV programming for kids older than age 2 − and no TV watching for kids under 2. Spend those extra hours reading together as a family!

There are so many choices available when picking books to read to your child. Ask other parents, your child's teacher, or check with your local library for recommendations.

These lists can help you get started: