| Parenting
Reading To Your Children
By: Brandie Valenzuela
It can't be said enough: read to your children
and let them read to you! There is no set age to begin -- some parents start
reading to their baby in their womb, others expose their child to their first
books when they are toddlers. All that really matters is that you start early,
and read often!
After going without a trip to our local library
for several years, my children and I went back to the place that, for them,
was like a candy store. Smiles appear to their faces as they wander the aisles
looking for that perfect book. My son frantically types words such as "lizards"
and "monkeys" into the computerized card catalog, while my daughter asks
the volunteers for help finding "scary books". As a mother, this is a delightful
sight. I love watching my children so in awe of the written word, and so
eager to enter the new worlds where these books will take them.
If you are a parent who admits that you don't
read to your children enough, or if you feel that you are just too busy for
this activity, I would like to take the time to explain to you several reasons
for why you should read to your little ones:
1) Reading aloud to children helps them to learn
to read. If you need just one reason, this should be it! All parents want
their children to learn to read and by reading to them you are giving them
an early start.
2) Reading aloud helps your child to learn new
words and language skills. Think for a second -- if you are reading a book
about cats and the word "feline" is in the text, it is chances are that your
child will begin to know that "feline" is another word for "cat" -- even
without you specifically saying this.
3) Reading aloud to children helps them to develop
their imaginations. Young children will listen to the words that you read
and they will imagine them in their minds. Later, they might think back to
the story and imagine even greater tales involving the characters, places,
and feelings you read about.
4) Reading aloud to children helps them to learn
about the world around them. Books can expose us to locations and situations
that we may never experience ourselves first hand. |
