Reading Consistently

Reading with your child(ren) is one of the most effective early literacy activities there is. The reason for is, in part, that reading alongside kids can help them build nearly every single critical pre-reading skill. Through regular storytime sessions, children are able to build a familiarity with book parts as well as how to handle books (a.k.a. print awareness), a love for and comfort with books (a.k.a. print motivation). During reading sessions, as they are exposed to more language (both in print and spoken), their vocabularies, ability to breakdown and form words/sentences, letter/number recognition, and ability to understand/retell stories are all bolstered. Even holding and manipulating books, as well as tracing underneath words with a finger can help build small muscles in their hands which will help them hold writing utensils later on.

As a side effect, spending this time with your child can improve their bond with you. Subsequently, this could greatly improve the sense of wellbeing they feel both during childhood and as an adult. This in and of itself makes this practice worth it.

To provide your child with the most opportunity to build key early literacy skills, it’s really helpful to make storytime a daily habit. Aim to read with your child every single day no matter their age. It can be helpful to reading alongside them from the day they are born to all the way until they are reading at a high level on their own. According to Dr. Pamela High, a pediatrician ____ is a critical step in ensuring that your little ones develop a lifelong passion for reading.

To provide your child with the most opportunity to build key early literacy skills, it’s really helpful to make storytime a daily habit. Aim to read with your child every single day no matter their age. It can be helpful to reading alongside them from the day they are born to all the way until they are reading at a high level on their own. According to Dr. Pamela High, a pediatrician and early literacy expert, making an effort towards having daily reading sessions is a critical step in ensuring that your little ones develop a lifelong passion for reading.

Reference(s):

Child Mind Institute. (n.d.). Why Is It Important to Read to Your Child? Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/

Hechinger Report. "Q&A: Dr. Pamela High Wrote a New Literacy Policy for Pediatricians Urging Doctors to Promote Reading to Young Children." Hechinger Report, https://hechingerreport.org/q-dr-pamela-high-wrote-new-literacy-policy-pediatricians-urging-doctors-promote-reading-young-children/.