|
The Value Of Reading With Your Preschool
Child
By Katherine Stehlik, M.S.
As a twenty-something beginning teacher I was
inundated with much information about children, learning strategies,
and teaching methods. It was easy to take in the information, but
without children of my own, and with little teaching experience, I
often questioned the validity of certain ideas.
One notion that I had trouble completely buying
into was the idea that simply reading to young children was a
magnificent learning occurrence. Without actually teaching reading
strategies and phonics was it really such a valuable learning
experience? A few years later I had my own little boy and the merit
of reading, even to a baby, was made clear. The mere act of reading
to a child creates numerous positive results, and it is fun and
enjoyable for both the parent and child.
Create a Bond
Perhaps the most rewarding initial result is the bonding that occurs
between parent and child. When you are reading to a young child you
naturally hold them in your lap. This is creating a nurturing
physical bond. Not only are you bonding physically, but when you
read with your child you are giving them your undivided attention
and are participating in a shared experience. This attention is
something that children thrive upon.
I once met a woman who shared with me that her
teenage sons, definitely capable of reading on their own, still
requested her to read to them at times because it was such a
familiar and comforting activity from childhood. This initial bond
strengthens the family relationship and creates a comfort zone for
your child. By creating a positive initial reading foundation your
child will continue to view reading as an enjoyable and comforting
experience even as they age. A child who loves to read should have a
much more enjoyable school and life experience.
Make Reading a Habit
Reading with your preschool child is also making a habit out of
reading. Whether you read at a certain time during the day, such as
bedtime, or whether you simply read at some point everyday, your
child is still getting into the routine of making reading a part of
everyday life. This is something that will be mandatory when they
enter school. When reading is viewed as a part of everyday life it
is not seen as a chore, but more as a necessary and enjoyable event.
Build Life Skills
Aside from the emotional connection that reading to children
encourages it also begins to build life skills. Reading to preschool
children accomplishes this by expanding their vocabulary and
conversation skills. When you read to children they are constantly
hearing new words. They quickly pick up on these words, and you will
begin to hear them incorporate them into their own vocabulary. When
you discuss the book you are reading, your child also begins to
improve upon their own conversation skills. When you question your
child about the book you are helping them to attain an understanding
of how to answer questions. Not only are you teaching them basic
comprehension skills, but you are teaching them to be inquisitive
themselves – in reading and in life.
Introduce Basic Academic Skills
The act of reading with a preschool child offers much emotional
fulfillment, fosters a positive attitude toward reading, and
introduces them to basic life skills. It also begins to introduce
them to basic academic skills. The introduction of these skills at
an early age makes the transition from parent reading to child
reading a smoother one. Preschoolers are like a sponge when it comes
to internalizing new information. By building a reading foundation
at this early age the preschooler will be ahead of the game when it
comes time for them to take over the reins of reading for
themselves.
Introduce Basic Print Concepts
By reading to your young child you are introducing them to basic
print concepts. Many of these are second nature to an adult and we
forget they are skills that must be taught. However, they are easily
learned simply through the child’s observation of your reading. They
grasp concepts such as:
As basic as these skills may seem, they are
completely necessary for a child to make the next steps into
learning to read for themselves.
Reading to a child exposes them to many new
concepts. It is a great way to teach them basic information in a fun
and engaging manner. Books teach preschoolers about:
-
Colors
-
Numbers
-
Letters
-
Shapes
-
Rhyming Words
-
Factual Information
When preschoolers are being read to they are
learning basic information that will serve as a building block for
future learning.
Reading with your preschool child is a vital part
of their development and their future success. It establishes a
healthy emotional bond between the parent and the child. Early
reading with your child will also create a positive attitude in them
when it comes to the idea of reading. Many reading and life skills
are planted in the child’s mind when preschool reading occurs.
I know as the mom of a preschooler reading with
my child has been one of the most enjoyable shared experiences that
we have had. It is amazing to witness the growth that he has made
from our habit of early reading. Even as a rambunctious two year
old, reading is the activity that he most often requests. Reading
with your child will create lifetime skills, but more importantly a
lifetime bond full of wonderful memories.
Would you like to assure the time you spend
reading to your preschool child helps prepare them for maximum
success in their academic careers and beyond? The BUSTER Family
Reading Program is designed to do just that.
Click here to find out more.
About the Author
Katherine Stehlik
is an educator and mother.
She has an MS in reading and has spent four years as an
elementary school classroom teacher.
She is also the mother of a two sons - the oldest is two and a half
and his little brother is five weeks old.
She currently works with the BUSTER Family Reading Program,
helping parents build a reading foundation for their children at an
early age in order to help assure academic and life success.
To get a feel for how our Buster Family Reading Program works,
download
a FREE sample activity now.
| 
