Part 1: Birth Through Preschool Reading Skills

• Reading Together

(page 1)

Doctors Prescribe Reading

Reading aloud to young children is so critical that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors prescribe reading activities along with other advice given to parents at regular check-ups.

Dr. Perri Klass, Medical Director of Reach Out and Read, a national pediatric literacy program involving hundreds of hospitals, clinics, and independent practices, strongly agrees.

“With confidence,” says Dr. Klass, “I tell parents to read to their children, secure in the knowledge that there’s good evidence that it will help their language development, help them be ready to read when the time comes, and help parents and children spend loving moments together.”

Yet studies show that many parents have not yet heard of this “prescription for reading.” A national survey found that less than half (48 percent) of parents said they read or shared a picture book daily with their children ages 1 to 3.

Even fewer, 39 percent of parents, read or looked at a picture book with their infants at least once a day.

Most alarmingly, one in six parents of an infant (16 percent) said they do not read to their child at all (Young et al., 1996).

Try sitting your baby in your lap and read a book to him for the first time.

Show him pictures in the book as you point to them. In a lively way explain what the pictures are.

You’ve just helped you child take the next step beyond talking!

You’ve shown him that words and pictures connect. And you’ve started him on his way to understanding and enjoying books.

While your child is still a baby, reading aloud to him should become part of your daily routine.

Pick a quiet time, such as just before you put him to bed. This will give him a chance to rest between play and sleep.

If you can, read with him in your lap or snuggled next to you so that he feels close and safe.

As he gets older, he may need to move around some as you read to him.

If he gets tired or restless, stop reading.

Make reading aloud a quiet and comfortable time that your child looks forward to. Chances are very good that he will like reading all the more because of it.

Try to spend at least 30 minutes each day reading to and with your child. At first, read for no more than a few minutes at a time, several times a day.

As your child grows older, you should be able to tell if he wants you to read for longer periods.

Don’t be discouraged if you have to skip a day or don’t always keep to your schedule.

Just get back to your daily routine as soon as you can. Most of all, make sure that reading stays fun for both of you!

You May Also Be Interested In:

Sign Language For Babies And Beyond

You will Learn:

*How to promote early communication and language development in your child
*How to use sign language to develop reading skills
*How you can communicate with your baby much earlier
*How children make the transitions from gestures to signs to speech
*The benefits of utilizing sign language in children who have speech-delays or special needs.

Download Sign Language For Babies And Beyond And Receive These 6 BONUSES FREE:

FREE BONUS #1 - Video Demonstration of over 250 Signs
FREE BONUS #2 - E-mail Consultation to help you get started
FREE BONUS #3 - Free e-book: How to Potty Train Your Child in Five Hours
FREE BONUS #4 - Free e-book: Sign Language for Babies and Beyond
FREE BONUS # 5 - Free e-mail course: Setting Effective Rules and Consequences For Children
FREE BONUS #6 - Quick Reference Guide that will show you pictures of the signs.

Related Articles:

Part 1: Birth Through Preschool Reading Skills

• Teaching Reading To Your Preschooler - Page 1
• Teaching Reading To Your Preschooler -Page 2
• Becoming A Reader
• Talking And Listening
• Reading Together - Page 1
• Reading Together - Page 2
• Learning About Print And Books
• How To Choose Books For Your Preschooler
• Preschooler Booklist/Reading List
• Early Efforts To Write
• Reading In Another Language

Part 2: Birth Through Preschool: Activities For Developing Reading Skills in Your Preschooler

• Baby Talk
• Books And Babies

You may also be interested in the following:

Testing First Grade Reading Skills