A New Monthly Feature for Parents and Parent Educators:

Parent Talk, with child development specialist, Carolyn Kiefer, MS

Read Me A Story –and more!

The summer seems to be speeding towards fall! The mornings are cooler, it gets dark a little earlier, the ads are all about “back to school”. Perhaps its time to think about your family’s routines. If you don’t already have a regular time to read to your children (or summer changed a few things) this could be a good time to start or return to “reading time”.

Dorothy S. Strickland, Ph.D., Distinguished Research Fellow National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers, has written extensively about literacy (reading and understanding words) and school achievement. “Early literacy plays a key role in enabling the kind of early learning experiences that research shows are linked with academic achievement, reduced grade retention, higher graduation rates, and enhanced productivity in adult life.” She continues with the following key points:

• “Literacy learning starts early and persists throughout life. From the earliest years, everything that adults do to support children’s language and literacy really counts.”

• “Oral language and literacy develop concurrently. What children learn from listening and talking contributes to their ability to read and write and vice versa.”

• “Children’s experiences with the world and with print greatly influence their ability to comprehend what they read. True reading involves understanding. What children bring to a text, whether oral or written, influences the understandings they take away. There are two kinds of experiences that are highly influential to literacy development: background knowledge about the world and background knowledge about print and books.” (http://nieer.org/resources/newsletter)

To build on these research concepts and to develop happy reading times, keep in mind a few basics, including your child’s age and interests. Babies respond to color and clear pictures/photos of familiar animals or situations. Reading to babies and toddlers is more than just reading the words-- it includes handling the book (board books) and pointing as well as talking about the pictures. Two to five year olds often have favorite books and maybe memorize the words (you might be corrected) and maybe read along. This is an important step in learning to read as well as loving to read. They like to help hold the book and turn the pages as they gain understanding about stories and books.

Children who are learning to read, or are already reading often have interests that reach far beyond their reading ability. It is a great opportunity to keep the story closeness, by continuing to share interesting books aloud, way beyond the “sit in your lap” stage! There are wonderful chapter books that can be enjoyed over many reading times as children’s attention and memory expand. When my daughters were growing up, we read many non-fiction books as well as “classics” like Wind in the Willows with long sentences and the rich vocabulary of the 19th century. I know a number of families with “big kids” who read the Harry Potter books together. Sometimes the adult does the reading, other families take turns reading, or read by character. Such literature experiences give needed balance from the shortcut language of tweets and text messages.

While there is much emphasis on reading to children as a part of school readiness and early literacy, there can be so much close coziness and emotional development, while reading together. Snuggled close, with a book, can be about strengthening relationships and positive emotions as well as literacy. Perhaps you remember reading stories with your parents or grandparents: talking and listening, seeing, feeling, remembering the story and pictures encircled by a loving arm or lap. Maybe you didn’t have such experiences, and now want to experience them with your own children.

Some hints when reading to children:

• Get comfortable

• Follow your child’s lead when choosing books

• Look for balance of story and illustration depending on children’s ages

• Feel free to ask questions during a story—“what do you think happens next?” “Is this a real or pretend story?” “ Do bears really wear hats?” “ How do you think he feels?”

• Try different expressive voices, a big lion voice, or a small voice

• It’s ok to read a variety of books to match the ages of the children listening– a 3 year olds’ book and then the 5 year olds’—each can listen and relate on some level to the other’s story

• Slow down and enjoy the story time for yourself

Choose some books about situations or feelings. Owl Babies is one of my favorite stories to read to 2 ½ to 5 year olds. It is full of feelings about separation, worry and dependable parents. It is also rich in repetitive language and the opportunity for children to predict and say Bill’s line: “I want my mommy!” It usually requires at least two readings in a row, and is perfect for times of transition or change. Children’s Librarians are very helpful resources for choosing books about an interest area or timely situations for all ages of children!

Reading together is so much more than building the skills of speaking, listening, hearing sounds, identifying rhymes and comprehending ideas. Fred Rogers (“Mister Rogers”) said, “Attitudes are caught, not taught”. Delight in reading is a contagious attitude! Reading together can also be a way of ‘re-grouping” during a difficult day or a tired “meltdown”. (Maybe try taking 5 minutes to read a story, and then fix dinner?) The tradition of bedtime stories has much to offer with soothing voices, letting go of the day and preparing for rest—the routines of going to sleep. It is about reconnecting with family and home. Story times are part of building loving relationships and healthy emotional growth. Regularly scheduled, anytime, bedtime-- read with your child everyday. Create a loving cozy time, strengthen your relationship and share the delights of a good book!