Two Important Tips for Reading Aloud to Your Child
Perhaps you’ve heard that you should be reading to your young child, but you’re not really sure where to start. Maybe you’re a new parent and you just want to make sure you are doing “the right things” to help your child grow and learn. You might purchase books or use books from the library. Whatever you choose, just be sure they are out and available so that it encourages you and your child to read and look at them regularly.
Choose the right books.
For babies and toddlers with short attention spans, choose short books with simple pictures. Baby board books with the tough cover are an excellent choice at this stage. A baby’s first experience with a book is sometimes chewing on it! Babies and toddlers are still building their vocabulary of people, places, and things. They might NOT sit through an entire story, but they will enjoy naming the pictures and enjoy imitating the reading as they look at the book by themselves later on. I always kept 2-3 books in the diaper bag when I had children in that age range.
Preschoolers and early elementary aged children who have longer attention spans can choose somewhat longer books. Remember that if you are the person doing the reading, you can use books that are a HIGHER LEVEL than what the child could read on their own. Children will still enjoy beautiful and detailed illustrations, so you might do a search for Caldecott winners (books awarded for their illustrations). Other things to look for books that RHYME. It is extremely important to exposure your child to RHYME since it will help with learning to read.
For elementary aged children and up, you can choose chapter books that have fewer illustrations (if any). By this time, your child should be able to make pictures in their mind (mental images). You can allow your child to draw scenes from the story as you read it aloud. It’s like a movie playing the mind as you read. For this age of child, you can allow your child to sit and do something with their hands as you read.
One more thing: Don’t forget to choose nonfiction books sometimes. We can get in a nut of only choosing stories. While those are important, so are nonfiction books for developing vocabulary and exposure to text written in a different way. So much of what we read as grown-ups when we research is nonfiction, so get your child exposed that early on—whether it’s about volcanoes or lions or ancient Egyptians.
2. Ask questions.
Asking questions helps your child to think. Asking questions involves your child in the process. If he can’t read yet, he gets a chance to speak and put in his two cents worth. You might have a super talkative child that wants to interject and say what they think about the book anyway. When you hear what your child thinks, it’s pretty much an assessment—a test. It shows YOU how much your child UNDERSTANDS! So, listen!
If there is a misunderstanding, show your child how you can GO BACK AND REREAD to check for understanding, I do that all the time as an adult. Ask an average of one question per page. Sometimes it might be more. sometimes you might read a few pages without asking anything and then ask several on one page. This is a good start.
So, what can you ask your child? Here are some. ideas:
Ask questions about the pictures.
You can involve naming objects if your child is young: colors, shapes, etc.
Ask, “What is happening in this picture?” “What do you think he/she is doing?”
Ask, “Where are they in this picture?”
Ask predicting questions.
Ask, “What will happen next?” before you turn the page.
Ask, “Do you think he/she will……..? Why? Why not? Let’s see!” and then keep reading.
When you find the answer you can ask, “Did we get it right predicting?”
Ask connecting questions.
Ask, “Does this remind you of something that happened to you?”
Ask, “Does this remind you of another book?”
Ask, “What does this remind you of?”
Ask about the plot and story elements.
Ask, “Who is the main character in this story? Who are the minor characters?”
Consider asking about the villain. Is there are villain? If not, what is the bad thing in the story
(the problem) that needs to be fixed? Where does the story take place? (the setting)
What was the exciting part? (climax). Any question asking about characters also counts.
That includes motivation such as, “Why do you think she did that?”
Reflect on the story at the end.
Ask, “Should he have done that? Why? Why not?”
Ask, “Did you think that would happen? Why? Why not?”
Ask, “What did you like or not like about this book?”
Nonfiction book questions will be different. Your questions will be more fact related. You might ask your child to recall where a particular animal lives or which state has the most tornadoes. You can still work in the WHY questions by asking, “Why do you think they live there?” or “Why are there more tornadoes in THAT state?” You can still go back and reread if they do not remember.
It is true that some people are fantastic at reading aloud. They use dynamics with their voices for different characters and use expression. Children LOVE this enthusiasm! However, if you are intimidated or feel like you are a BORING reader, just remember how much your child adores you already! Sometimes I read to my children when I am tired, and I don’t feel like being super energetic. The children still benefit! Sitting down with a book in your hand or your child’s hand encourages learning and bonding—no matter how fancy you get with your reading. So, don’t be too hard on yourself if you feel it’s “not your thing.” You are making a difference when you read with your child!
Remember, YOU are your child’s most influential teacher.
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