Tips For Reading With Children

Read together every day. Make it part of your routine.

It is never too early (or too late) to start reading with your children – even a very young baby will soon learn that books are part of a pleasant activity.

Get to know your local public library and go there regularly with your family.  Many libraries offer story hours and program activities designed for learning.  It's the best bargain in town!

Look for and suggest materials that will entice older children and adolescents to return to reading. Suggest biographies of rock stars, car and teen magazines, or even the newspaper!

Children learn by example – if your children see you reading, they will learn that reading is an activity you value.

Let your children suggest reading material. Don't be afraid to read the same book over and over – children love repetition.

If a child is not interested in a particular book, don't worry about finishing it.  Move on to another book.

Let your children read to you.  Keep the story moving by helping your child with the difficult words.

Take turns reading to each other – use different voices or just ham it up.  Enjoy yourselves!

Make praise a part of reading.