Tips from the Pros!
The best way to read to kids
- Be comfortable, preferably face-to-face
- The child should be able the see the book right side up
For babies and toddlers:
- Follow their eye gaze and name pictures as they are looking at them, use exaggerated facial expression, intonation, and gestures
- Expand child’s knowledge by relating the objects or topics to things in the child’s own life (child’s pet, family, toys, etc.)
- Don’t have a plan or agenda, just share the moment and follow your child’s lead, repeat the same books or pages as many times as you can tolerate (Children love repetition)
- Praise the child for any attempt to say words or answering your questions with words or pointing to pictures
For 2-4 year-olds
- Give the child time to look at the pictures before reading the book
- Make the story interesting by changing your voice for each character
- Ask children comprehension questions to keep them engaged
- Ask them what they think will happen, what would they do, how did the character feel, etc.
- Praise the child for their answers
- Remember it is supposed to fun, not work!
For 4 years and up
- Do the same as above
- Ask the child to talk about story after it is read
- While reading stop and have the child guess the word
- Trace the words with finger as you read
- Praise the child for reading with you