Reading is one of the easiest thing you can do with your child. Yet, most of us stop once our child can read on their own. If you think about it, this doesn’t do much to inspire them to continue reading. Reading with your child – in one form or another – will do more to promote a love of reading than pointing them to a book on the table.
Before They Can Read
One of the best parts of being read to as a young child is the experience of being cozy and happy. The adult is engaging the young child in the story. The young child can, in turn, point to things to engage the adult. The entire experience is more than a way to stall bedtime – it’s a way to connect in a meaninful and enjoyable way.
Once They Start Reading
As soon as a kid can decode a page, most of us are ready to leave them to it. But part of the fun of reading was the time spent with you. So, for young readers, it’s still a good idea to engage while they read. You can take turns reading a page or a chapter. You can ask what’s going on in the book. You can both guess what happens next. Doing these things extends the part of reading that has to do with connecting with you.
When They’re Accomplished Readers
At some point, you child is ready to read without your involvement. That’s a bittersweet moment for sure. But, you can create a family tradition of reading for half an hour together after dinner or on the weekend. You can also read books that are beyond their current reading level aloud and talk about those books. Or you can both read the same book individually, then talk about what you enjoyed.
Bottom Line
Reading together – whether literally on the same page at the same time or in some other form – is an opportunity to have a life-long link with your child. Why not find a way that works for your family?