Preschoolers and Parents Reading Together

Preschoolers and Parents Reading Together
Laurie Weinreb-Welch, Extension Educator
Penn State Cooperative Extension-Clinton County

Teachers and child development experts agree that reading aloud to our child and having your child read aloud to you can be a tremendous benefit. Because children can hear and understand words and concepts that they could not possibly read on their own, reading together can help expand your child’s vocabulary, increase knowledge, and develop enthusiasm for reading. In addition, books that are more difficult to read may have more exciting and colorful descriptions than books designed for beginning readers. Almost every child has the potential and ability to read well. The most important thing you can do to help your children become good readers is to read to them everyday.
There are wide varieties of activities you can do with your preschooler to help extend the reading session. Here are some tips to keep in mind when reading with your preschooler:

Try to establish a routine by reading to them at the same time everyday (before bedtime is preferable).
Do not stop in the middle. Read a chapter or set a number of pages every night until you finish.
Use inflections when you read, be spirited.
Try to adjust the rhythm of your reading to fit the action, for example, during and emotional moment, read slower to create suspense and your child more interested in the story.
After you and your child read together, talk about what you have read.
Try pairing a book of fiction with a nonfiction book on the same topic. Pairing books in this way will help your child understand the fictional work better, and will also broaden their knowledge and enhance learning.

It is also important to create a home environment that encourages reading for your preschooler and everyone living in the home. Try to keep books in every room of your home. Fill your home with books borrowed from the library, newspapers and magazines. Keep an eye out for inexpensive books at flea markets, garage sales and used bookstores. Collecting books can be an important family activity. Parents send the message that you value reading, and that books are important and fun. You will also give assess to a wealth of reading material. It can be helpful to designate a bookcase or shelf especially for your preschooler. Visiting the library with your child also shows your commitment to reading. Go to the children’s section and spend time reading and selecting books to take home. Check out books yourself and have your child check out their own books to show your child everyone can use and enjoy books and the library.
Children and parents alike will benefit from this shared quality time together. By reading with your children, not only will you help improve their reading skills, you will help them develop a love for reading that will last throughout their lives.

Materials adapted from, “Reading Wizards: Parents and Children Reading Together”. Dr. Daniel Perkins, Penn State University. (May 2001)