Reading to Children Helps Them Succeed
Andrea Nisley, Extension Educator
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Building Nebraska Families Program
A child’s potential for success in school starts long before he or she walks into a classroom. Reading is an easy activity that parents can do with their young children and is consistently linked with better school performance. It is also very child-centered and creates warm and positive interaction between parents and children.
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension Building Nebraska Families Program
A child’s potential for success in school starts long before he or she walks into a classroom. Reading is an easy activity that parents can do with their young children and is consistently linked with better school performance. It is also very child-centered and creates warm and positive interaction between parents and children.
Educators believe that reading:
• stimulates children’s imaginations.
• enhances their vocabularies.
• introduces them to components of stories (characters, plot, action, and sequence).
• helps them learn about the world around them.
• stimulates children’s imaginations.
• enhances their vocabularies.
• introduces them to components of stories (characters, plot, action, and sequence).
• helps them learn about the world around them.
Mothers may be the ones who typically read to children, but fathers are just as capable of being part of this important activity. When fathers make a conscious decision to read to their children on a regular basis, they contribute to their children’s future in a way that few others can. When fathers read aloud to their kids, they have a chance to enhance their children’s literacy skills by spending quality time together. It also provides them with the opportunity to communicate about a variety of topics and to strengthen the father-child relationship.
There is no “right” or “wrong” way to read to children, but these tips might help everyone have more fun while you read.
Read to your child as soon as possible. Reading to your child is educational, but your child will probably think it is fun!
Set aside a special time for reading each day. Decide on a time that works best for you and your child.
Focus on the 3 R’s: Rhythm, Rhyme and Repetition. Babies and very young children are more likely to pay attention to books that contain these three elements.
Focus on the 3 R’s: Rhythm, Rhyme and Repetition. Babies and very young children are more likely to pay attention to books that contain these three elements.
Keep books handy. Children will show more interest in reading if books are readily available in your home. Check out books from your local public library.
Parents who read to their children regularly tend to raise children who are excellent readers and who will do better in school. For additional information on this topic view the publication “Early Literacy Checklist-In the Home” G1991on the extension.unl.edu/publications website or contact your local University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension office.
© 2008-2012 agNET. All rights reserved
