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Hatching Young Readers' Reading tips | | Tip #3: Take a “picture walk”
Getting a new book to read from the library is always so exciting that an emergent reader can’t wait to dive in and begin reading the story as soon as they bring it home. However, before jumping into the new adventure it is very important for emergent readers to take a “picture walk” or “book look” through the pages. To take a “picture walk,” the reader must look at the book page by page focusing in only on the illustrations or photographs. As they “walk” through the book the reader should tell the story by looking at the pictures. This will help your emergent reader to discover new vocabulary in the story (or non-fiction text) and also to anticipate what will happen in the story before even getting started reading. Taking a “picture walk” is a great pre-reading activity that a child can do when reading with a parent, care-giver, or friend. This is also a great skill for a reader to use when reading independently. Once your emergent reader has finished their “picture walk” the adventure of reading can begin!
Tip #2: Books can be toys too!
One of the most important things you can do for your child is to make books readily accessible to them when they are just babies. Part of learning about books and reading is the simple joy of interacting with a book through touch and sight.
Allow your child to explore the beautiful illustrations and colorful photographs that fill the pages. Babies learn by feeling the pages with their mouths and little hands. Books that have bright colors, tactile features and peek-a-boo pages will make your baby coo with delight.
“Playing” with books will help your child discover how a book works and develop the great pre-reading skill of taking a “picture walk” through the book, as they get older. When you come into our house, you will find books scattered about in every room just like toys, which is just the way it should be.
Enjoy the adventure of reading with your little ones!
Tip #1: Reading aloud
There is no better way to encourage children to read than reading aloud. Research has proven that the early years involve the highest rates of learning and that reading habits formed at a young age stay with children for a lifetime.
Children of all ages benefit from being read to. Taking time to read to them every day is one of the best investments you can make in your children’s future. And it's not just about reading. It's also about enjoying the attention and interaction as you read to them.
Babies feel comforted by their parent’s voice. They enjoy listening and respond to books with simple text and good rhythm. Once they’re old enough to sit up and handle the books, they'll enjoy brightly colored books that stimulate the senses. Bedtime reading is a great way to get babies to sleep, and repeated reading of favorite stories helps develop memory skills.
Toddlers love the repetitive text of stories that focus on familiar everyday events, particularly those with brightly colored pictures. They often enjoy having the same story read to them over and over again as they anticipate what’s on the next page. They also enjoy books with rhythmic or lyrical words. Reading counting books will aid their understanding of numbers.
Preschoolers enjoy listening to more complex texts with more characters and still enjoy good rhythm and repetition. They appreciate a variety of subjects. Books about the natural world, from familiar animals to the more exotic jungle animals, mermaids, knights and fairies are some of the more popular subjects for preschoolers. Books that introduce the alphabet, counting, telling the time are also good choices.
Your local library will have a selection of suitable books by leading children's authors broken down into sections according to age suitability. Children’s librarians are a great source for referrals to the better books. Your local bookstore is another good source of recommendations. Books by leading children's authors and publishers can also be bought online.
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