Reading Tips for Parents

FOR ALL CHILDREN
*  Parents are their child's first teacher.
*  It is never too early or too late to read aloud to your child.
*  Children learn by watching the adults in their lives.  Let your child see you reading and writing in your everyday life.
*  Set a special time for reading every day.
*  Keep books and writing materials in every room of the house.
*  Take books with you whenever you leave home so your children can read or look at books in the car, waiting for appointments, or visiting relatives.
*  Visit your local public library to find out what books and services are available for children and families.
*  Give your child books as gifts to start a home library.

BIRTH TO THREE YEARS
*  Hold your baby while reading to create a close, loving bond.
*  Talk, sing, and read to your baby to help his/her brain make the connections it need for growth and later learning.  
*  Pick books that your baby or toddler can hold and explore.  They can be soft books made of cloth or sturdy books made of plastic or cardboard.  Corners should be rounded.  Babies can chew on these books without causing damage.
*  Choose books with simple, large pictures or designs set against a solid background on each page.
*  Point to pictures and name objects.  Then encourage your baby to do the same.

THREE TO FIVE YEARS
*  Point out printed words in the real world (like road signs, cereal boxes, store signs, etc.) throughout the day.
*  Keep books in a basket on the floor or on a low bookshelf where children can reach them.  
*  Read nursery rhymes and poetry to teach children the rhythm of language.
*  Read favorite books over and over.  Children learn from repetition.
*  Encourage your child to sit with a book and talk about the pictures or just pretend to be reading.  
*  Show your child how important reading and writing are to you by involving him/her in making out a shopping list,  reading letters from friends, paying bills, or reading a magazine.  

SIX TO EIGHT YEARS
*  Continue to read aloud when your child is learning to read.  Take turns and read a paragraph and then ask your child to read a sentence or paragraph.
*  Talk to your child about the stories you read and ask what he/she thinks about the story-is it funny, sad, or exciting?
*  Look at a map or globe with your child and talk about where you would like to travel.  Find a book that tells you more about the animals, climate, and people who line in different locations.  
*  Provide a bedside lamp and allow your child to read in bed.
*  Encourage your child to visit the library and participate in a summer reading program to keep reading skills sharp when school is out.
*  Log on.  Computer time can be reading time.  There are many software programs which build reading skills.
* Look for reading and writing opportunities, like reading recipe cards or cookbook directions, game directions, creating a scrapbook, or making holiday cards or party invitations.

NINE TO TWELVE YEARS 
*  Provide books or magazines about your child's interests or hobbies.  
*  Nurture writing by asking your child to make a shopping list, take phone messages, write letters or e-mail to friends and relatives, or keep a diary.  
*  Before you take a vacation, read about your destination (food, climate, special sights) together.  
*  Begin reading a book to your child and then let him/her finish it on his/her own.
*  Encourage reading for pleasure by allowing your child to select books on his/her own.  Even if children pick comic books or series of books they will still by reading for pleasure and their tastes in reading materials will likely change as they mature.  

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