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Spending the time to help your children develop their reading skills is the wisest investment you’ll ever make in their academic success. Ensuring strong reading habits early on will build a solid foundation for their success in school and the professional world. Kids with good reading skills are more likely to grow into well-spoken, goal-oriented adults. More importantly, reading will open your child’s eyes to a whole new world of possibility and fuel their imaginations.
What If I’m Not the Strongest Reader?

All the more reason to get involved! One in five adults has serious trouble with reading. Reading to your kids can be a great second chance for you to strengthen your own skills while forging precious memories your child will look back on for the rest of their lives. Here are a few tips to get you started:

•    Don’t Wait. Start Now. As early as infancy, your baby can begin forming a solid foundation for a lifetime of reading. Get some of the very basic, thick board books and describe the pictures to them. Have them play with the pages and sing to them. This soothing activity can also help to pacify a colicky or fussy baby.

•    Don’t Feel Overwhelmed. Okay, so you may not be ready to start reading your child advanced level Shakespeare. That’s okay—your little ones aren’t ready either. Start out slow at a pace you both enjoy, gradually building up to more advanced books. There are countless children’s and young adult titles designed for remedial readers. Start with books containing big, bold pictures and simple rhymes before moving up to longer texts with fairy tales, mysteries, and complex plots.

•    Do as I Do. It’s time to change your habits. Make it a point to lead by example. Children of all ages are prone to a “monkey see, monkey do” mentality. If you aren’t interested in reading a newspaper, magazine, or book, then why should they? Let them see you reading and they’ll eventually follow suit. (This may mean taking a break from the television!)

•    Attend an Adult Literacy Course. There’s nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to educating yourself and providing a healthy, nurturing environment for your child. You should be proud of helping your child achieve what you might have been denied. Your local community college is a great place to get started.

•    Get a Library Card—and Use It. Libraries are a great place to stimulate your child’s zest for reading. Hit the shelves and find a few titles that both you and your child will enjoy. Remember, it should be fun for you as well. When in doubt, ask a librarian for help – they’re more than willing. Also look around for any information about children’s reading groups or story time organizations – these are wonderful opportunities to further your child’s literacy.

How Should I Read?

•    Have Fun: This is a chance for you to bond with your child. The key is to be comfortable and relaxed. If you’re visibly enjoying the experience, they will too.

•    Get Them Involved: This means turning the book towards them, pointing out the characters and action, and having them help you describe pictures and/or words as their own reading skills start to develop. Through this interaction, you’ll help to teach independence as well as appreciation for words.

•    It’s Show Time: Part of the fun of storytelling is acting out the plot. Use different voices for each character and talk about the pictures as they come up. If you come across a big word, let your child know what it means.

•    Don’t Rush: Even though you might be ready to hit the sack, your child will get much less benefit if you hurry through a book – especially at early ages. Take your time and let them examine each page, stopping every now and again to ask them about their take on the story or the pictures. Have them point out and name certain colors, shapes, or objects.

•    What Do They Want to Read? As your child gets older, ask for their feedback on the stories that they want to hear. They’re much more likely to reap the rewards of reading when it’s a book they enjoy.

•    Read with Them, Not at Them: As your child starts to read on his own, begin taking turns. Hand the book off to them for every other paragraph, then every other chapter.

Helping your child develop their reading skills is something that should be a pleasure, not a chore. Take some time to read a few starter books yourself before getting your child involved. With a little bit of imagination, you can make learning time an enjoyable, bonding experience you will both remember for years to come.

Anderson

When it comes to reading to your child, the earlier the better.  When introducing your baby to reading, the types of books you choose are very important as well as the subjects.  Some solid subjects for this age group include numbers, bedtime stories, ABC’s, and picture books.  I would recommend going with lightweight and sturdy books, perfect for toddlers.

• Little Scholastic: Numbers, by Fiona Land is bold and bright, a tactical board book featuring numbers to count and touch.  This is a great, hands-on book for learning numbers.
• Little Mouse,  with a plush finger puppet permanently attached to the book and peek-a-boo holes in every page, this charming board book creates fun along the way as parents and children play and read together.
• Guess How Much I Love You, by Sam McBratney is a classic, heartwarming story. Little Nutbrown Hare shows his daddy how much he loves him: as wide as he can reach and as far as he can hop. But Big Nutbrown Hare, who can reach farther and hop higher, loves him back just as much. Well then Little Nutbrown Hare loves him right up to the moon, but that’s just halfway to Big Nutbrown Hare’s love for him.
• Oh, David!, by David Shannon, recounts the early years of Shannon’s beloved young alter ego with exuberant wit. Filled with messes, mishaps, and heavy doses of humor, this book is perfect to share with the youngest of children.

Literacy is an essential tool that will strongly influence a child’s future.  These books are a great start to instilling a love of reading in your child.  Not only does reading form important habits, it creates a strong parent-child bond that can last a lifetime.  Happy Reading!

Do boys and girls learn differently? According to many parents and educators, a gender gap definitely exists. Across the world, girls average 10.5 points lower than boys on math tests. When it comes to reading, the scores show drastically different results, with girls earning an average of 32.7 points more than boys. The highest gaps were noted in countries with the most gender-equal societies. In Iceland, an extremely gender-equal country, girls scored 61 points higher than boys!
Parents and teachers have long suspected an early learning gap between the sexes, but their suspicion wasn’t substantiated until recently. The Millennium Cohort Group, currently tracking the development of 15,000 children born between 2000-2002, has reported statistics of the developmental gap between 5 year-old boys and girls who are entering kindergarten. According to their findings, girls are approximately two months ahead of boys in language and learning skills. The developmental gap continues to widen in the primary grades; by the fourth grade, the average boy is two years behind the average girl in reading and writing. In addition, boys are almost four times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, and make up 70 percent of special education classes.

Data supports that girls have superior reading and language abilities over boys. In 2008, researchers from Northwestern University and the University of Hafia have provided a clear biological basis that may account for this gender difference. In the study, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the brain activity of boys and girls as they performed reading and language tasks. The findings indicated that the area of the brain associated with language works harder in girls than boys, and that the two genders rely on different parts of the brain when performing language and reading tasks. While reading, girls’ brains showed greater activity in language encoding, and boys’ brains showed activity in regions tied to visual and auditory functions. The study suggests that in a classroom setting, boys need to be taught reading and language skills both orally and visually, but that girls may learn by either method.

This biological offers some insight as to why reading is more difficult for boys than it is for girls. Jon Scieszka, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, offers additional explanations for the gender gap. Scieszka stated, “Boys have trouble reading because they don’t get to read for a purpose that makes sense to them. So, they turn off to all of reading.” Scieszka also claims that boys have difficulty reading because:

• The competitive learning style of many boys works against them in learning to read
• As a society, boys are taught to suppress their feelings and emotions, and become uncomfortable exploring these sentiments in books
• Boys lack positive male role models for literacy, with teachers and librarians serving as predominantly female roles

In Reading Don’t Fix No Chevys: Literacy in the Lives of Young Men, authors Michael Smith and Jeffrey Wilhelm cite some interesting findings regarding gender and literacy. The results of their studies suggest that:
• Boys read less than girls
• Boys take longer to read than girls
• Boys attribute less value to reading activities than girls

When 14 year-old boys were asked about their obstacles to reading in a 2001 Young Adult Library Association survey, the responses included:

• Boring/not fun, 39.3%
• No time, 29.8%
• Like to do other things better, 11.1%
• Can’t get into the stories, 7.7%
• I’m not good at it, 4.3%
• Makes me tired/causes headaches, 2.5%
• Video games/TV more interesting, 2.3%
• Too much school work, 1.4%
• Books are too long, 0.09%
• Friends make fun of me, 0.01%

These survey results, combined with the studies of Smith and Wilhelm, indicate that boys are often not offered a selection that encourages an interest in reading. Smith and Wilhelm suggest keeping the following considerations in mind when engaging boys in reading:

• Boys like to read informational texts, magazines, newspaper articles, graphic novels, and comic books
• Boys enjoy reading about hobbies, sports, and things they might do or be interested in doing
• Boys like to collect things, including series of books
• Boys tend to enjoy escapism and humor, and some boys are passionate about science fiction or fantasy

Parents play an important role in encouraging their sons to read. As much as possible, allow your son to choose the books he wants to read for pleasure, and don’t discourage him from reading books that are below his grade level. Read with your son; if he’s struggling, take turns or allow him to listen to the story. Fathers and male role models should set an example by reading in front of their children.
Instilling a love of reading is one of the most important gifts you can give your child, providing them the foundation they need for a lifetime of learning.

It’s difficult to dispute the educational merits of the Internet or to discount the entertainment value of television and interactive video games. The web is an excellent source of instructional content and is the mother lode of all research tools. Television provides fantastic educational programming and can help kids to develop learning and socialization skills. Quality television can teach children life lessons and values, help develop critical thinking skills, and can spark imagination and creativity. Video games can strengthen critical thinking techniques and strategy development skills, and provide trial-and-error scenarios in a non-threatening environment. That said, parents need to be aware of the potential pitfalls of too much screen time, which can lead to unhealthy side effects and potentially dangerous scenarios.

Electronic media can expose children to violence and adult content. Children who witness violent acts, such as kidnapping or murder, can ultimately become insecure and view the world as scary and unsafe. Adult content often portrays sex and substance abuse as fun and exciting, without mentioning the consequences of alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, or premarital sex. A typical American child watches more than 1,000 hours of television each year, and by the time they reach the age of 18 will have witnessed more than 200,000 violent acts. Interactive video games, particularly games depicting repetitive violence, can increase aggression and cause the distinction between reality and fantasy to blur. In addition, video games are often highly addicting, and rob students of hours of sleep, homework, reading, socializing with friends, and exercise.

Although there are more than 3 million child-safe websites on the Internet, it’s quite common for children to inadvertently access material that is violent or sexual in nature. Innocent search engine queries can unleash thousands of potentially unsavory results. Chat rooms and social media websites, excellent for sharing interests and resources, are often frequented by child predators and can serve as a direct pipeline for cyber-bullying, identity theft, and unsolicited advertising.

Monitoring content and limiting screen time are important steps parents must take to protect children. To combat the negative effects of electronic media, parents should provide screen-free opportunities for learning, recreation, and socialization. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this task is to instill a love of reading in children. Use television, the Internet, or video games as a catalyst for reading by encouraging children to follow-up what they’ve seen with a topically related book. Set an example for your children by limiting your own screen time, and let your children see you reading. Many schools have established “Stop, Drop, and Read” programs, which require children, teachers, and support staff to stop what they’re doing, sit down, and read a book whenever the announcement is made. This fun activity is easily incorporated at home, and will provide a welcome break from television, the Internet, and video games.

Research shows that avid readers have heightened concentration skills, are quick to note subtleties, and have an easier time processing new information than non-readers. Avid readers are also more flexible and open to new ideas, have a strong empathy for the thoughts and feelings of others, and excel in a variety of subjects. Avid readers are able to stay well-informed of new technologies, global issues, financial topics, current events, and social concerns with relative ease.

Reading encourages children to paint images in their minds of characters and scenes, and to become a part of the story. Reading and discussing books with children can serve as a stepping stone for addressing difficult topics, such as divorce, illness, or death. Sharing books with others can create a special bond and inspire friendship. Teen book clubs, hosted at local libraries or bookstores, provide an excellent forum for teens to share ideas and inspiration with peers in a non-critical environment. Book clubs foster public speaking and self-expression skills, encourage teens to accept different points of view, and are also a great way to meet new friends.

One of the most important gifts you can ever give your child is a love of reading. This gift won’t collect dust, doesn’t require batteries, and is guaranteed not to become obsolete or go out of style. Tonight, unplug and unwind with a good book; your child will thank you. 

Anderson B. Bell

Development of organizational skills is an important way for kids to gain self confidence and have control of their lives without letting mess and disorganization take over.

1.  What inspired you to write a children’s book?

My constant struggle with my children’s messy rooms, which resulted in them often losing their belongings, led me to seek a child friendly book that teaches kids organizational skills at an early age. I thought that there was a great need for an educational book that taught the importance of organization and the necessary tools to achieve it. I was inspired to write this out of sheer need to help children, including my own.

2.  How did you come up with the idea for this book? Did it stem from your own experiences raising children?

It was based purely on my experiences raising my kids. I also realized that the most prominent daily struggle of many parents of young children is the messiness of their rooms and the misplacing of items as a result. Unless organizational skills are taught at an early age, children will carry this disorderliness to their adult lives.

3.  Why do you think organization is important for a child to learn at a young age?

Disorganization can negatively impact a child’s success in school and job performance later in life. Organization is not a one-time task but rather a habit that is most effective when learned at a young age. Without tidiness, it can be difficult to be efficient in everyday tasks, such as dealing with time and money or keeping track of personal belongings.

In my company where multi-tasking is key, disorganized members of the team have a harder time keeping up with the pressures of work than the more organized professionals. Basic organizational skills, something as simple as a well organized desk, will translate into better time management, stronger prioritization skills, and a clearer understanding of the task lists as well as projects to be tackled.

These skills are not automatically learned when one is growing up—they are taught to children by their parents. So unless the parents spend the necessary time educating their kids about these important tools, children will not learn how to lead organized lives and thus face challenges in every aspect of their daily routines. If kids learn the core principles of organization at an early age, they will become tools children will intuitively implement for the rest of their lives. They will be able to seamlessly multi-task when they are tackling different subjects and sports in school. From personal finances to their home space, their lives will be more stress free and simplified.

4.  Why is bedroom organization so important?

Everything starts in the bedroom when kids are growing up. Their bedroom is their first “living space” that belongs to them, whether they are sharing that space with a sibling or not. Once they master the skills of how to keep their bedrooms impeccably organized, they will translate into their organizational skills in other parts of the home and beyond.

When my kids started school, I was working full time and always had someone who would clean up their bedrooms once or twice a week, or I would do the clean up, so I never spent the time to teach my children the core skills needed to be organized. The lack of organizational tools resulted in them wasting a significant amount of time looking for items they would misplace. They would lose their homework, tennis rackets, gym shoes, etc. in the pile of clothes that accumulated in their rooms during days when the helper was not there or I did not have time to clean up after them. My kids were suffering the consequences of their own disorganization, and their quick clean up sessions were only temporary solutions to a greater problem. I started realizing that they simply did not have the necessary tools to maintain tidy rooms on a daily basis. How Cleaning My Room Changed My Life turned out to be a useful reference that urged them to implement the key tactics and tools necessary to become more organized. I immediately saw that the improvement of their rooms was also reflected in their enhanced organization and time-management skills at school. Their grades started improving and they gained more self confidence about having control over their own lives rather than letting a pile of mess take them over.

The key here is to establish life-long skills that kids will implement automatically without second-guessing the task. It should become a part of their daily routine, like brushing their teeth or washing their hands.

5.  Do you think this book is more of a learning tool for children or teaching tool for parents?

Both. Older kids (ages 6-10) will be able to take the necessary life lessons and implement them, but parental supervision is necessary to ensure that this is not simply a short-term solution, but rather a life-long skill they will acquire. Parental involvement and consistent monitoring is key until the child gets to a point where tidiness becomes an inherent part of their personality. As for younger kids, they can start reading the book with their parents and implement the basic age appropriate tips given in the book. We want every child to get a CleanLand certificate, the recognition we give to all children once they complete the organizational training at the end of the book.

6.  Do you think that children are more apt to be organized individuals if their parents are?

Yes. Children learn by example. Some of the messiest homes I have stepped into have kids who are as disorganized as their parents. If their parents’ bedroom, as well as the rest of the home, is in impeccable order, it will put more pressure on the kids to have tidy rooms.

7.  In your opinion, in what ways does reading affect a child’s life, with regards to self-esteem, future learning abilities, concentration skills, and overall well-being?

Reading stimulates a child’s brain, imagination and creativity. It also improves one’s overall vocabulary and understanding of grammar, enabling the child to have superior oral and written communication skills. It teaches a child to focus and digest information more efficiently than those who are not readers. Reading is also a calm and almost meditative pastime that gives today’s children who are running from one activity to another the opportunity to enjoy a moment by themselves where they connect to a multitude of different worlds and experiences created and presented by authors. Given all this, it is no secret that reading has been proven to dramatically improve school performance of children while positively contributing to their well being.

8.  How has reading with your children as they have grown up affected your relationship with them?

Reading has been an opportunity for me to spend one-on-one time with my children and bond with them. It has enabled me to hear their thoughts and discuss their feelings about stories we read together, which ultimately enhanced our inter-personal communication skills. Television is not allowed in our home during the week and my children read instead. Parents should start reading to their children at an early age (I started reading to my kids when they were 7 months old) and make this precious past-time a daily habit. It has also been proven that children who have parents that are readers are more prone to become readers themselves. I suggest parents to have an abundance of books in their homes, designate at least an hour of two “family quiet time” in the house when every member of the family is reading and encourage their kids to talk about their books during family gatherings, dinner time, etc.

9.  In your opinion, how can a child benefit from understanding the importance of philanthropy at a young age?

In a society where we work relentlessly to accumulate possessions, many of which we probably do not need or use, teaching kids the rewarding virtue of philanthropy will lead them to live happier, more fulfilled lives.

Children need to learn to give to and care about other individuals less fortunate than they are at an early age so it becomes a habit as they become adults. By practicing this, they will also understand the value of de-cluttering one’s life by giving away “things” which can be put to better use by someone who is in need. Through reducing the amount of their possessions, kids will appreciate what they have and maximize the potential of each item that they own rather than taking things for granted.

Think about the number of toys some children receive during the holidays. I have seen basements that look like mini-Disney Worlds in which kids do not even know which toy to play with. They are so distracted and over-stimulated that they spend only seconds with one toy before they move on to the next. Overabundance of toys interferes with children’s creativity. By learning to help those in need, kids not only learn to be able to detach themselves from their belongings to help someone else, but also do not make the accumulation of possessions a core goal in their lives. The world will simply become a better place with kids who make “giving” a routine in their lives.

10.  In addition, how can being involved in philanthropic activities strengthen a family’s relationships?

Just as reading can connect parents with their children, philanthropic activities allow parents to foster meaningful pastimes with their children and enhance the bonding between a parent and a child. These activities also teach children the importance of community service, and show them how giving back can lead to a more rewarding life while helping those who need it. These activities teach kids the importance of sharing and the act of selflessness, which will ultimately help them develop into considerate, charitable individuals.

Above all, reading is the most fundamental ability a child will master. It’s at the core of every other subject taught during the early school years—without a good grasp of letters, words, and sentences, it will be virtually impossible for a student to grasp topics like math, science, and social studies. Reading is also integral to achieving healthy mental and emotional growth, a rich vocabulary, and a fertile imagination.

Parents, relatives, and teachers have the opportunity—and, in many cases, the duty—to teach children how to develop the basic reading skills that will serve as the backbone of their educational development. There are countless ways in which these mentors can help make the learning process a fun and rewarding journey. Below are some of our favorite tips and techniques, a compilation of suggestions from professional educators and tutors who specialize in teaching kids how to read.

• Don’t limit the learning just to books. Take the time to show children the myriad of places and ways in which reading emerges as part of everyday life: on a cereal box, a street sign, or the instructions for assembling a toy, for example.
• Teach them the anatomy of a page. When a child looks at a book for the first time, he most likely won’t realize that the words are read from left to right, or that the top line is first. Take the time to point out the “course” of a page, pointing out the page number, titles and headings, the order of the lines and words, and the spaces between words.
• Choose big fonts. This makes a huge difference to kids who are just learning how to discern different letters from one another. Select a book that uses large, simple lettering with very obvious spaces and punctuation.
• Choose small words. In the early learning stages, your child should be focusing on the basic building blocks of sentences, like “the,” “is,” “me,” and “you.” The multi-syllable words can come later, when the student has the basic foundation to build upon.
• Master the art of labeling. What better way to teach a child how to associate words with objects than by labeling their favorite everyday items? If they know the word “sharpener” is used to describe that cool thing that grinds their pencils, they’ll be more eager to parse and pronounce the word.
• Help them make friends with letters—and teach them that a letter is more than just a pretty face. In addition to coaching them to recognize and trace a letter, also introduce the associated sound. It will be easier for the student to learn all three together rather than going back and making the connection later.
• Dissect sentences. A string of words together can be overwhelming to a new reader. Break up a sentence into individual words, and then demonstrate how they all fit together in a certain order to form a cohesive concept or idea. Flash cards are a great way to mix and match different words to form sentences.
• Teach the art of the syllable. Recognizing the cadence and rhythm of multi-syllabic words is a formative step in the development of early reading skills. Clapping out the number of syllables in a word is an effective way to demonstrate the concept.
• Coach phonemic awareness. Phonemes are specific sounds that make up a word. For example, the phonemes /m/-/oo/-/s/ combine to form the word “moose”. Have children sound out the individual phonemes to form basic words, like “dog” and “cat”.
• Start with words where the sounds of the letters correspond to their most common pronunciations (for example, “can” instead of “cello”).
• Promote individual reading. After each lesson, leave the book with the child and encourage them to read some more on their own. Even if they haven’t yet mastered the skill, they can practice some of the techniques you’ve taught them, such as digesting a sentence from left to right and sounding out the phonemes.
• Save blended consonants, such as “stem” and “blend”, until after the child has mastered the basics of simple words like “cat” and “dog”.
• Blend old with new. While children thrive on the repetition of the same favorite stories over and over, it’s also beneficial to introduce different stories that use new words (and familiar words in different ways). Gradually increase the level of difficulty in the books you present.
• Choose books with subject matter that pertains to the child’s everyday activities. For instance, if the reader is preparing to transition to a new school or has just gotten a new pet, they’ll be more likely to relate to a book dealing with that topic.
• Encourage dialogue and speculation while reading. Stop every couple of pages and ask questions that prompt the child to think critically about the characters and storyline. By associating the words in a story with real-life emotions and events, they’ll be more likely to engage with the book.
• Point out the relationships between the sentences and the graphics on the page. Early readers use imagery as reinforcement of the meanings of letters and words.

By employing these time-tested techniques for introducing the basics of reading, parents and teachers can help children build the solid foundation they need to develop a lifelong love of the written word.

With literally hundreds of children’s books on the market today, how do you choose the ones that will most benefit your kids? The best approach is to use your child’s age as a guide. Based on whether you’re reading to a newborn, a toddler, or a pre-schooler, different types of books will provide different types of stimulation and help your little reader reach certain developmental milestones. Different stages also call for varied reading techniques to help your child get the most education and entertainment out of each session.

Below, we’ve compiled some stage-by-stage recommendations to use when sharing a book with your young reading companion.

Baby Steps

There’s no disputing the benefits of reading to your baby. Even if he can’t yet understand the story’s plot or the meaning of the words he’s hearing, he’s enjoying an array of advantages that will continue to serve him through his toddler and pre-school years. In addition to soothing him with the sound of your voice, reading aloud to your baby presents the basic building blocks of his language, provides stimulation for cognitive growth, and promotes a nurturing bond with you.

It may seem like your newborn isn’t aware of the details of his surroundings, but he’s absorbing more than you think. Infants are attracted to sharply contrasting colors, especially black and white. At this stage, words aren’t as important as colors, shapes, and pictures. Newborns especially enjoy looking at other people’s faces, so choose books that include close-up pictures of other babies, children, and adults. By exposing your infant to these graphical elements, you’re helping to lay the foundation for picture recognition.

Once he reaches the 4-6 month phase, your baby will begin to display a more active interest in the books you read to him. Bright, vivid colors and pictures will hold his attention best. Narrate the story in an animated voice, emphasizing rhyming and repeating verses. By the time your baby is 6-9 months old, he’ll likely start responding more during story time, reaching out to point at favorite pictures and touching the pages. You may often find him verbally responding to your voice, cooing and laughing as you recite familiar passages. As your baby approaches the one-year mark, he’ll begin to recognize certain books as his favorites, will show signs of associating pictures with objects, and may start to mimic the sounds of animals he sees on the page.

Reading to Toddlers

Toddlers are voracious explorers, regarding every situation as an educational adventure—including books. When reading to a child between 12 months and 2-1/2 years old, you’ll likely notice a shift from passive observer to active participant. Your toddler will want to have a say in everything from the book you choose to read to which chair you sit in to read it. Try to be as flexible as possible while narrating the story. Let your little one set the pace—if she wants to spend more time on a page that interests her, or if she deviates from the story to talk about the pictures, accommodate her. Invite her to hold the book as you read, or to help turn the pages.

Toddlers thrive on routine, so incorporate reading as a regular pre-bedtime and pre-nap regimen. Keep in mind that children in this age group sometimes find it difficult to remain still for long periods of time, so be patient. Your child may start off sitting on your lap or lying beside you, but may get up several times during the course of the story. Keep reading, and she’ll likely return.

Children in this age group also have a predilection for repetition, so don’t be surprised if your toddler requests that you read the same book over and over again. She may even begin reciting familiar words and phrases as you turn the pages.

Pre-school Readers

As your child approaches pre-school age, he’s forming the foundation for a lifetime of reading. When reading to a 3- to 5-year-old, you’ll notice a more active participation in the story, questions about the characters and plot, and recognition of numbers and letters. 4- and 5-year-olds will recognize that the words on the page represent the details of the story, and may even be able to sound out some of the easier words as a first step toward reading on their own. As you read, run a finger beneath the words to help your child begin to grasp the concept of letters forming words, words forming sentences, and sentences forming complete stories.

Another common behavior of preschoolers is to page through a book and pretend to be reading. This is a positive sign that indicates their interest in developing their own reading skills. For a fun twist, invite your child to read a favorite book to you—even if they can’t read the words verbatim, they can use the pictures on the pages and their own imagination and memory to piece together the story.

When choosing a story to read to your pre-schooler, why not start with the ones you loved during your own childhood? They’ll get a kick out of sharing the same book you enjoyed when you were their age, and you’ll enjoy seeing a classic favorite through their eyes.

When you’ve reached the end of a book, take a couple of minutes to talk with your pre-schooler about the story. Ask questions about their thoughts on the outcome, their feelings about how the characters dealt with a conflict they faced, and what your child learned from the book.

To reinforce the lessons you’re instilling through reading, point out other printed words with which you and your child come into contact throughout the day. You might ask her what the letters on a stop sign say, for instance, or point out the words on the side of a bus. It’s also a good idea to expose your child to as much of your own reading as possible, whether it’s a literary novel or just a to-do list.

Elementary Readers

As your child enters elementary school, sharing books is an excellent way to help develop her budding reading skills. Build a collection of age-appropriate books tailored to her grade level. When choosing books, look for topics that mirror your child’s daily routines and milestones. For instance, you might select a book about the first day of school for your 5-year-old who’s just starting kindergarten, or a story about the beach just before your family takes a vacation. It’s fine to continue reading aloud, but you should periodically encourage your child to read words and phrases on her own.

Keep informed about your child’s reading progress in school. Show your support by volunteering to come into school and read stories to her class. Helping your child with her homework each night provides another opportunity to monitor and encourage her reading abilities. Be sure to praise her progress as a way of boosting her confidence.

And you don’t have to limit your shared reading to books. Newspapers, public signs, and even cereal boxes provide impromptu reading opportunities.

A Lifetime of Rewards

Taking just a few minutes each day to read to your child, no matter what his age, will provide him with a solid foundation for years of learning and fun. By choosing materials that are age-appropriate and utilizing some of the tips presented above, you can help make reading an adventure, not a chore.

Let’s face it: modern families are busier than ever. Between work, school, homework, sports, and errands, today’s hectic lifestyles make it difficult for everyone to sit down at the dinner table at the same time, much less carve out the spare minutes to read together every day.

We’ve all heard the experts herald the many benefits of reading to our children. Just fifteen minutes a day can help boost cognitive development, improve social skills, increase the retention of new concepts in school, and encourage creativity. With so many important advantages within such easy reach, every parent needs to find the time to read to their children on a regular basis.

It doesn’t have to require a great deal of effort or sacrifice. Below, we’ve compiled some easy, creative ways to incorporate reading into your everyday routine, and to ensure that the time is spent effectively:

• Make it a bedtime ritual. Reading to your child helps to create a soothing atmosphere and helps eliminate the stress and tension of the day, promoting more restful sleep and pleasant dreams. Each night when you tuck your little one in, let him select one or two stories to read together. In less than ten minutes, you can enjoy some valuable bonding time and help your child relax enough to drift off to sleep. Naptimes are another opportunity to incorporate a quick book.
• Read during meals. What better time to share a story than when the family is already gathered together at the dinner table? Although books shouldn’t replace eating conversation, there’s nothing wrong with introducing a favorite family tale as the meal winds down. Make it a reward for when your child has tried a new food, cleared his plate, or displayed good table manners.
• Bring books to bath time. Getting clean just got a whole lot more fun. After the shampoo is rinsed away, perch on the edge of the bathtub and read your child their favorite story. As they relax in the water, your child will be a captive audience. Many books are available in a waterproof design intended for bath use.
• Choose relevant themes. Children most enjoy books when they can relate to the subject matter. If your four-year-old has just started pre-school, select books that put a positive spin on the first day of school. For a six-year-old who’s preoccupied with a loose tooth, a story about the Tooth Fairy’s arrival will surely catch their attention. Pick books tailored to the current season: if Christmas is just around the corner, expose your children to a classic holiday tale, or boost Fourth of July excitement with a patriotic story.
• Replace a TV show. If your child has a favorite television program she watches every evening, try substituting a long reading session. She’ll receive a much greater benefit from books than she would from the show, and you won’t be sacrificing any additional time on top of what was already allocated to another form of entertainment. While your child may resist at first to giving up her show, she’ll soon realize how fun the alternative can be.
• Take your time. Try not to rush through the story—no matter what their age, kids will pick up on your disinterest and will quickly lose enthusiasm for the story. Narrate with an animated voice, and encourage your child to interact as you make your way through the book. Turn each story into an engaging performance that will bring it to life. Be patient as she stops you to point out interesting pictures, sound out words, or ask questions about the storyline.
• Use the story as a conversation starter. During or after the story, pepper your child with questions pertaining to the plot or the pictures. For instance, you might ask him who his favorite character is, what part he enjoyed the most, or what questions remain unanswered at the end. Use the book as a source for a pop quiz on colors, numbers, animals, and more.
• Serve as a reading model. As you’re perusing a newspaper, TV guide, magazine, or catalog of your own, quote interesting tidbits for your child to hear. If they frequently see you reading, and associate it with multiple purposes, they’ll be more likely to display an active interest themselves.
• Take a field trip. When you have some extra time, such as on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, head out to a fun new location with books in tow. Spread out a blanket at the park, have a picnic lunch, and then read a few stories in the open air. In a new context, even the most familiar books can take on an element of novelty and excitement.
• Visit the library. Another destination conducive to reading is the library. Check with your local branch for children’s story time hours, and then take your little one to listen along with the group. Seeing the excited reactions of other children will help to spark their own enthusiasm. While at the library, visit the kids’ section and allow your child to select a few new books to borrow, which will teach them the importance of such a valuable free resource.

You don’t have to incorporate all of these guidelines, but using just a few will help make reading to your child a fundamental element of your daily routine. Plus, these approaches will help to maximize the enjoyment he’ll receive from the stories you introduce to him. When you treat reading like the gift that it is, your child will more readily—and gratefully—receive it.

At My Book Stork, we believe every child deserves to receive the gift of reading. The written word has the power to transcend all class, race, and status divisions, providing education and entertainment across a wide spectrum of readers. The sad reality, though, is there are many kids who simply don’t have access to the appropriate, high-quality books or instruction they need, resulting in startlingly high rates of childhood illiteracy.

Studies have shown that if a child does not develop healthy reading skills by the fourth grade, they’ll often completely lose the enthusiasm to learn. This has a negative ripple effect across all areas of study—after all, if a child can’t read, how is he or she supposed to excel in math, science, or social studies? Reading is at the core of all learning, and without it, it’s simply impossible to achieve any level of intellectual development. The benefits of reading are widely known: an enhanced vocabulary, a richer imagination, improved speech patterns, and a greater capacity to learn.

The good news is, everyone has the capacity to help. By donating just a little time each week, you can help to foster underprivileged children with the skills and enthusiasm they need to truly appreciate the joy of books.

Below, we’ve compiled some easy ways for you to make a difference in introducing reading and books to disadvantaged children:

• Donate. This is perhaps the easiest way to help. Set aside an afternoon and take stock of your collection of children’s books. If you have older children, ask them to help you make a pile of reading material to donate. Don’t just select the most battered or time-worn books—strive for a diverse mix that caters to a wide variety of interests. You might even encourage your children to sacrifice one treasured book as a gesture of goodwill. Once you’ve got your collection ready, you’ll just need to find a place to take it. Nearly every city has a number of local organizations that help make books available to needy kids. Another easy option is a local Goodwill or Salvation Army donation center. Check with local libraries and schools for groups in your area, or hop online to find out more. Once you’ve selected a donation venue, take your children along to help you drop off the books. Actively participating in the contribution will help them feel good about themselves and will teach them the valuable rewards of philanthropy.

• Host a story hour. Most libraries host regular story time sessions for various age levels, and they’re almost always eager for guest readers. Call your local branch to gauge their need. No library nearby? Consider holding a story hour at another public venue, such as a park or recreation center. Place an ad in a local paper or online to attract young readers in your area.

• Volunteer at a school. Many inner-city schools are low on funds and staffing, and the students pay the price of sub-par curriculum and lack of individualized attention. If you live near one of these struggling schools, contact the administrators and offer to come in and read to a classroom of kids once a week, bi-monthly, or as often as your schedule permits. Many schools are also in need of private tutors to help kids who have dyslexia and other learning disabilities and may require some special time and attention to overcome extra hurdles. Spending just a couple of hours a week with a struggling child can do wonders to increase their reading abilities and level of self-esteem.

• Visit a hospital. For kids who are suffering from a serious illness or recovering from surgery, maintaining a positive outlook can be tough. Introducing the joy of reading can help even a very sick child achieve a new level of optimism. Contact your local children’s hospital and ask about getting involved in a volunteer reading program. Whether it’s a pediatric oncology ward, a burn center, or a critical care unit, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a simple book can bring a smile to the faces of the patients.

• Encourage other kids to get involved. No-one has the power to influence a child quite like their peers. Rally the kids in your own neighborhood to do their part to foster a love of learning in their fellow students. Host a “reading rally” on your street or in your home, where each child reads their favorite book to the group. After the readings, encourage the attendants to donate their own books, to help coach other students who need a little extra instruction, and to volunteer their spare time to read to other kids.

It doesn’t take a huge sacrifice of time or money to help introduce underprivileged or challenged kids to the delights of reading. Whether you can spare one hour or ten, your little efforts will go a long way toward promoting childrens’ self-esteem, imagination, and a lifelong love of learning.

A few months ago, a new boy joined my daughter’s pre-school class. To the casual observer, Jacob seemed to be a perfectly normal four-year-old: sandy brown hair, disarming freckles, Nike gymshoes. A little quiet, perhaps, hovering at the edge of the circle when the other kids gathered for show and tell. While my daughter passed around the shoebox of seashells she’d brought in to share, Jacob seemed oblivious, fixated instead on the pages of a Sesame Street book.

“Looks like you’ve got a reader,” I whispered to the teacher.

She looked up and smiled, then delivered two facts as casually as if they were related, as if they didn’t seem to completely contradict one another. “Oh, Jacob has autism. He loves books.”

Since then, I’ve learned a great deal about autism. As it turns out, the disorder doesn’t always match up with the long-standing stereotypes instilled by the “Rain Man” movie and the rocking, keening kids we’ve all seen in movies and TV shows. A child with autism can often function and communicate at a level close to what’s considered “normal”, playing and talking and, yes, even reading. That said, there are indeed more severe cases resulting in the classic symptoms we’ve all come to recognize: inability to communicate verbally or nonverbally, a sense of detachment or oblivion to the outside world, and repetitive or obsessive movements.

Some Autism Facts

With up to six out of every 1,000 children diagnosed with autism in today’s society, the frequency of the disorder—especially among males—has increased to an alarming extent in recent years. Although there’s been much debate among doctors, parents, and teachers, the only thing that’s certain is this: no-one is sure of the cause, and the sudden spike in occurrences is even more mystifying.

Most cases of autism are diagnosed right around two or three years of age, when the afflicted child fails to reach certain developmental milestones, struggles to communicate with other kids, does not indulge in play, and displays highly repetitive or restrictive behaviors. The good news is, with such a wide range of levels of autism, it is possible that early and aggressive therapies can help mildly to moderately affected children enjoy an active and participatory role in the world around them. One of these beneficial therapies is reading.

Tips for Teaching Reading to Children with Autism

While it’s true that some children with autism will never master the skill of reading, there are plenty that will eventually read at the same level (or sometimes even higher) as those who do not suffer from the disorder. Reading to a child with autism and encouraging him to interact with and respond to the images and words being presented is a great way to promote his involvement with the world around him.

Teachers and parents who are teaching a child with autism to read are faced with a daunting—although not insurmountable—task. In addition to having trouble focusing, sufferers of the disorder often struggle to master even the most basic spelling and grammar rules. Above all, the process requires a great deal of patience and persistence on the part of the instructor. Below, we’ve compiled some tips for effectively introducing reading as a therapeutic tool for children with autism:

• Incorporate music. Children with autism are notoriously drawn to sounds, especially music. Often, a child will seem oblivious to the spoken word, but will suddenly become engaged by the resonance of instruments or a voice lifted in song. Choose books that include audio features, such as buttons that play melodies, animal sounds, or kids’ voices, as a way of capturing and holding the child’s attention.
• Choose reality-based books. Kids with autism are soothed and grounded by the familiarity of the world around them. Many are only truly comfortable at home, surrounded by the objects and routines to which they’re exposed every day. By choosing fanciful, whimsical stories that cater to colorful imaginations, you run the risk of reaching the end of the child’s attention span or causing confusion and frustration. Instead, opt for practical narrations of regular everyday activities, such as waking up, eating breakfast, and getting ready for school.
• Use visual stimulation. Children with autism who are learning to read absorb more information by viewing it than by hearing it. Present letter cut-outs to encourage them to learn and sound out the alphabet, then begin to slowly arrange and rearrange the letters into words. When choosing books, opt for those that include bright and contrasting colors, varying textures, large block lettering, and boldly outlined images.
• Encourage reading groups. It’s important to give children with autism a feeling of inclusion with other kids. Often, mildly affected children are well aware of—and often embarrassed by—the differences between themselves and others their age. Joining a reading group is a great way for kids with autism to interact with their peers while being exposed to educational stories and abstract concepts.

Remember, every child with autism is unique, diagnosed with their own specific level of the disorder. When teaching reading to a child who has been diagnosed the condition, go slowly, remain patient, and adjust your expectations to allow for slow but steady progress. There may be weeks when you’ll notice marked improvement, but then will suddenly find yourself stymied by a frustrating plateau or a disappointing backslide. Again, the key is to stick with it and allow the child as much time as he or she needs to process the concepts being presented.

At My Book Stork, we offer dozens of the most widely loved children’s books in print today. From timeless classics to the latest exciting new titles, you’re sure to find an inspiring choice with visual and intellectual stimulation for all reading levels.