Home Activities:
How often does your child see you reading a newspaper, a book, or a magazine? By reading at home, you are showing your child that reading is an important and enjoyable experience for you. Another enjoyable experience is reading to your child. This can be a valuable part of your daily routine. The more you read to your child, the more your child will develop the desire to read.
Your child can learn so much from you reading to him/her! He/she learns how to hold and handle a book, how to turn the pages, where the story begins and ends, and how a story is told.
READING TO YOUR CHILD IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HOME ACTIVITIES TO HELP HIM/HER LEARN TO LOVE TO READ!!!!
Here are some suggestions for reading to your child:
1. Read in a quiet, comfortable place everyday.
2. Smile while reading, read slowly, repeat words, and ask him/her questions about the story.
3. Read a variety of enjoyable books, such as picture books, predictable books, and nursery rhymes/poetry.
4. Reread stories over and over.
5. Read 20 minutes per day at least 5 days a week. This adds up to 100 minutes per week, 400 minutes per month, and 3600 minutes per school year. Imagine how much your child will learn from reading just 20 minutes each day!!!!
For more ideas on activities, tips, and resources to help your child discover the joy of reading, visit http://www.rif.org/ .