Why not give a child a book this Christmas?

Christmas is a time of giving and with all the knowledge around us, we must be prepared to give a valuable gift this Christmas.

Reading expands a child’s knowledge and vocabulary and improves their comprehension skills. Studies show that a child who is read to from an early age has a larger vocabulary and is often able to construct sentences much earlier than his peers.

It is very important that parents understand that the introduction to reading should be fun. When shopping for books for your toddler or preschooler, choose colorful books that hold their attention, as well as books with relatable stories.

Having interesting and fun books for your child will encourage a love of reading. If she thinks it’s hard, she’ll just make her feel like she’s not good at it.

Reading stimulates the brain. When you’re reading to your child, make sure you’re not reading as fast as you would if you were reading to yourself. Give him time to look at the pictures as he reads, ask questions like who was his favorite character in the story, point to animals or characters in the story and ask him to name them. It’s always a plus when you’re reading a family story and she can join in or finish sentences.

Reading should be done in a cozy and relaxed environment. It should also be used as bonding time for you and your child. You should show a lot of emotion when it’s time to read. Seeing your reaction will only encourage her and she will look forward to reading time.

Let your child see that you follow the text with your finger. Children will begin to recognize words as you read, especially in books with repetition.

With familiar books and favorite stories, let her have the opportunity to read to you, too. Children enjoy this part of the reading session while doing what mom or dad does every day. Young children tend to read by heart, but as they get older and begin to learn new words, this will soon be a thing of the past.

Paired reading is also a great stimulus for young children. It helps build confidence and not focus on mistakes. Let your child choose the book, keeping in mind that if he doesn’t read, it should be a book he knows, or if he can read a little, it should be a simple book.

When you read together, you should read at a reasonable pace. She must point to the words in the book; the child should be reading fractionally behind you or simultaneously.
If the child makes a mistake, just say the correct word and move on.