Research
has shown that by talking, singing, and reading to children,
parents are turning on brain cells that are essential
for a healthy child. Parents can build reading skills
by interacting with their children. Schools recognize
the importance of parent involvement in students progress
and are increasingly encouraging parents to play a more
active role.
Reading to children, even for a few
minutes each day, prepares them to read and encourages
a positive attitude toward reading. Children who are
read to at home learn to read more easily, have a higher
vocabulary, and are more likely to develop a love for
reading than those who are not read to on a regular
basis. Simply put, this cannot be done too early or
too often.
Stay
committed to making the process of learning to read
pleasurable, exciting, and pressure-free. Keep in mind
that as with learning how to talk, children begin to
understand written letters at different rates. The key
is to get your child excited by the written word so
that reading becomes a natural extension of her own
curiosity and an enjoyable pastime.
