Reading to a child

This, by far, is one of the most important things you can do to, or for, any child. They sit in your lap, at first because they can't move, and then later because they want to. You capture their attention, activate their brain, and stimulate and create the use of their imagination. But, there are ways to do it correctly, and if you can, you will forever open their minds.


Growing up, I would always be encouraged by my dad to do the readings at church. This was my first experience of public speaking, and both parents made me practice. And by practice, I mean reading out loud, to them, A LOT. What I remember the most about those sessions, was that they always said the same thing, "Slow down". When I started reading to children, I recalled hearing my Dad saying that to me, so from the start, I read slowly to my nanny children.


Reading to an infant is pretty easy. You can choose whatever you want, and while they are nursing, or having their bottle, you just read out loud. Slowly, and every word. At this point, they are not listening to the content, just the rise and fall of your voice. You can read the sports page, or a trashy romance novel, they don't mind. The point is that you are establishing that what you are saying is important, and you're sharing that with the child you are holding. Therefore the child will learn that snuggle, one-on-one time, face time, can be achieved through books.


Once the child recognizes the book, then you have to switch to age appropriate ones and the teaching begins. The child learns that books mean have some value, that the pages have a rhythm of turning from right to left, that the pictures work from left to right, the book has a beginning and an end, and the words are actually saying something.


As the child grows, you continue reading speaking slowly, and allowing your voice pitch to alter with the climax of the book, or just with the written punctuation. No voices are necessary, although they can be fun. One year olds just like 1 word per page, or just to identify 1 shape or animal per page. Two year old likes quick short stories, and 3 year olds are getting into actual stories. By four, you're reading longer books, maybe even chapter books. Having them repeat back the story to you is a god way to see if they are listening to the words, or just looking at the pictures.