Raise a Reader

My Laura, now 20-years-old, confessed recently that she loved the book Jamberry. She remembers the silly rhyming text with the dancing bear and little lad as they jam in Berryland, cavort in strawberry fields, rumble and ramble in blackberry brambles, and topple their canoeberry with blueberries. Reading aloud to Laura brought us together for moments of joy and unique mother-daughter bonding.

Right from the start, read aloud to your child. “Reading aloud is one of the most important parenting activities you can perform,” says school psychologist Wesley Sharpe. Reading aloud is the one variable found to have an impact on children’s school success. Did you know reading aloud to your child helps him improve math and social study skills?

Now is the time to equip your child with the right tools for future success! How do you raise a reader?

*Be a role model; let him see you read the newspaper, a recipe, a favorite novel or the mail. Remember, your child will copy your behavior and value what you value.

*Build a child-library; collect age-appropriate books from garage sales, buy used copies from your public library, and tell grandparents to give books when they ask for gift ideas.

*Be relaxed when reading aloud to your child. If he senses tension in the muscles of your arms or lap and in your voice, he'll relate reading to work rather than pleasure.

*Read aloud slowly; it's not a race. Allow time for your child to absorb each distinct word and your voice inflection.

*Treat books as your best friend. Rather than grumble, “We’ve read that book a million times,” say, “Oh Jamberry – your favorite! Okay, we’ll read it again.”

To both my daughters, books were companions; stashed in the car’s glove box, toted to the grocery store and doctor appointments, and scattered around our home. In fact, my favorite “bribe” picture is curly-haired, little Lynsey sitting on her potty chair looking through a book.

What book do YOU remember as a child? Why do you remember it? My guess is that its because you and Mom or Dad shared that book together, and there are warm memories associated with the book.

Challenge yourself to daily read to your child. He’s not too young – and will never be too old – to be read to.

Children don’t learn to love books by themselves. Someone has to lure them into the wonderful world of the written word, someone has to show them the way – that someone can be you.

(Adapted from The Birth to Five Book: Confident Childrearing Right from the Start by Brenda Nixon).