Fostering a Natural Reader Every Day

​     One would think that with the advent of public schools in 1821, illiteracy wouldn’t be an issue in this day and age, but today we are still trying to find the magic road to reading. So what is the magic? Simply read aloud to your child. Reading aloud is possibly the single most important activity you can undertake to help ensure a bright and promising future for your child. The road to reading should encompass reading aloud to your child every day, preferably more than once a day if possible, exposing your child to a variety of books, making your home a print rich environment that encourages curiosity and exploration and also, bringing your child to your local library and bookstores, which also might offer a story time. Sounds overwhelming?  Truly it’s not.  As the reassuring words on the cover of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy read: “Do Not Panic!” It basically comes down to the simple act of reading aloud. We want to help parents realize that reading aloud can be a natural part of your day and that with a few small changes and additions, the road to reading will be a natural process for your child and that many children will master the basic skills even before they begin school.  After children begin school and can read on their own, continue the practice of reading aloud. This will further strengthen your bond as well as introduce more complex language and vocabulary that they themselves cannot yet read or decipher independently. Children can understand more challenging books through listening than they can read on their own.
 
     So what are the basics of putting your child on the road to reading naturally? Don’t think of it as or make it a burden or a chore. It should be a natural part of your day and should be an enjoyable experience that encourages bonding with your little one, affection and positive associations with books. Share books you enjoyed as a child and together discover new ones, even if it isn’t something that you are interested in. Encourage your child to expand his horizons and to reach beyond the familiar.

​     Here are our tips for making books and reading a natural, organic part of your every day. Remember that each child is a unique individual and what works for one parent and one child, may not work for another.  Relax and enjoy!      

• “Fill your house with stacks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.” Dr. Seuss had it right when he wrote those words. In order to raise a literate child with a deep appreciation of the written word you have to have a variety of books available for individual exploration and read alouds. Keep books visible and easily accessible throughout the home. Besides bookshelves, keep books in crates or baskets on the floor so young children are able to explore as they play or create a special reading corner for down time with cozy seating. 

• Let your child make their own reading choices. Have you noticed the ever growing children’s section of libraries and bookstores? The variety keeps increasing offering a great deal to choose from so allow your child the freedom to browse and “try out” books to find what appeals to them. Refrain from judging! Allow children to peruse picture books, chapter books, graphic novels, fiction, non-fiction, comics, magazines, and even newspapers and remember that what appeals today, may not appeal next month. Let children voice their opinion about what you are reading aloud but sometimes a book that doesn’t excite at first might become a favorite or at least add something positive to their world. Give them a taste of what you liked at their age and pull out some classics. Always offer new choices. Be ready to answer any questions your child may have about what they are reading and don’t let other parents shame you for your choices or what you choose to allow your child to read. You are the one that knows your child (their maturity level, their personality) and can make the best judgment on what will be appropriate for them and what they will enjoy.

                         *Explore the BTBL website for further recommendations and book lists. 

• Value all reading.  Some children, especially boys, prefer non- fiction so you shouldn’t discount newspapers and magazines as a choice of reading material. There are many magazines out there written specifically for children such as National Geographic Kids, National Geographic Little Kids, Time for Kids, Sports Illustrated Kids and Ranger Rick to name a few. The shorter and varied reading selections and activities offer an alternative to books but still keep children engaged and reading. Keep offering and exploring the different genres and varieties of books until your child finds something that really appeals to their interest and style of reading.

• There is more than one form of storytelling.  You don’t have to have a book in front of you in order to share a story. Try retelling a story that you and your child already know even if it ends up getting changed along the way. Get creative with it by telling it from a different perspective with new twists and allow your child to help decide where the story will go. The human experience is deeply rooted in the oral tradition of storytelling so tell a story from either their childhood (kids love to hear about themselves) or from your own childhood or about a grandparent or other relative, even if they are deceased. Children need to hear and appreciate their heritage. 

• If your child doesn’t like to read, don’t force it, change it up!  Read to your child every day and create a ritual such as reading aloud every night before bed. Include older children as well. Demonstrate the value of books to your children by getting the whole family involved in the reading experience. Turn off that television, put down that tablet and gather the family for an evening read aloud. You can choose a member to read aloud to all, pass the book around for each person to read as much or as little as they like or even assign character parts to read,  turning your standard read aloud into a reader’s theatre. Allow each member of the family to have a choice in the book even if you can’t read them all in one night. Put the names in a hat and draw them out so that there aren’t any arguments over which book is read thus ensuring everyone’s choice will get read at some point. Making it a family activity shows that reading is a priority in your lives and that you value books.

• Model the behavior you wish to see. The old adage “do as I say, not as I do” does not apply to reading. You yourself have to show your child that reading is important by getting away from the screens and sitting down with a good book. Our children want to be like us, they look up to the adults in their lives and will begin to appreciate books all the more if they see that you are choosing to read yourself. Also, share what you’re reading with your child (if appropriate) and read what they are reading. Young adult books offer romance, mystery, action, fantasy as well as tackling complex issues. By reading some yourself, you will open up the door to having meaningful discussions with your child.

• Join or form a reading centered playgroup. If you are a stay-at-home mom or dad, consider becoming part of a playgroup with a read aloud focus (if you can’t find one, start one.) Get moms, dads and kids together for “reading time.” Take turns bringing a favorite book to share with the group and then engage the children in an extended activity related to the story or simply give them time to play together afterwards. This allows children to hear new voices and interpretations, while also exposing them to stories you may never have heard of or chosen yourself. Additionally, parents get to see how other adults approach the read aloud experience. For you busy and working parents look for a group that meets in the evenings or on weekends or start your own. Libraries and bookstores also offer story time so check out what’s in your area. 
  

• Visit bookstores. There is no better rainy day activity than wandering a bookstore, expect perhaps spending time at the library, of course. Bookstore and library displays can help children locate a book they might like to try, especially when the cover of the book is displayed as opposed to just looking at the spine of a book on a shelf. You and your child might find something completely new and unexpected while wandering around. I myself discovered the genre of Steampunk through a bookstore display and immediately fell in love. Include big retail outlets as well as local and used bookstores. Used bookstores are generally quite inexpensive, which can allow a child to locate a book that other stores no longer carry, the library has already removed from its shelf or that might be out of print.  I am much more willing to try a questionable book or give a new author a try if the book is $0.50 as opposed to $8.00. Friends of the Library sales have great cheap finds and have the double bonus of supporting the library as well. 

• Never feel self-conscious when reading aloud! It actually creates a stronger bond with children when they see that their parents can be silly and are enjoying the story. Plus, when you read with inflection, changing your pitch and tone, use facial expressions and do voices, accents, noises and other sound effects, your child will be more fully engaged and invested in the read aloud. If you are not a strong reader, don’t apologize. You will become a stronger reader yourself as you share stories with your child and build their reading skills. Start out with shorter picture books. Read them yourself before sharing them with your child. Look up any words you are unfamiliar with or Google them to hear a pronunciation. As mentioned earlier, we as parents have to set the example. If we show our children that we value reading by making the effort to better our own reading skills they will be far more likely to follow in our footsteps.

“When you’re performing, you’re creating a moment.”
​-Erykah Badu-

     Keep in mind that the reading experience should be an enjoyable experience, for if it’s not, why continue? Don’t create an atmosphere of drudgery where you continually stop during the story to ask your child questions and then negate their answers or locate a worksheet on-line that you make them complete. Let your child be your guide and allow their imagination to soar. The worst part for me reading a book in school was wondering what questions they were going to ask about the story at the end so I could never fully enjoy it. Your job at home is to build reading skills naturally through enjoyable interactions and read alouds and to introduce your child to many unique and varied worlds through the reading of a book.

Happy reading!