Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.(1994)
~ Emilie Buchwald ~

There is no substitute for books in the life of a child. (1952)
~ Mary Ellen Chase ~

The Importance of Reading to Your Child...

"Read to your child" is a phrase often told to parents, but many of us don't have as much time as we'd like to do it. Parents often ask many questions about reading to their children, such as: How beneficial can reading to my child be? Can I develop my child's reading skills if I'm not a frequent reader? I'm the one reading the words, what does my child get out of reading? What books are appropriate for young children? How do I go about setting up a reading session? Here are some answers to these very important questions.

Benefits
Reading to your child can be beneficial in more ways than one. Perhaps the most important benefit is the time you will spend together. You'll share a special moment by taking part in an activity that can be done almost any time and any place. Sitting on your lap, your child will have a sense of security. You'll get to know each other and deepen your relationship.

Reading can be compared to art: the more you draw, the better an artist you'll become. Likewise, the more you read, the better a reader you'll be. Your child will not criticize your reading skills. Even if you have a rocky start, with time, your reading skills will get better.

By reading the story aloud, your child will learn to follow a story from beginning to end. New vocabulary will be introduced. When there's more than one language spoken in the household, the child will develop his hearing to the language and be able to use the correct pronunciation. There's also picture identification and labeling various items in the book.
Key Ingredients For Successful Reading:

Find something interesting to read.

Change your tone of voice, use low and high pitch, use squeaking sounds, whistles and other mouth noises.

Involve your child in the reading.

Discuss with your child the people in the story and what happened.

Play with the ending, e.g. What happened to …? What if…?

Most important -- laugh and have fun with your child.


When the child follows the story line, letter recognition develops. Try adding an extra word in the story -- your child will tell you know that he's heard the difference. You'll also be enhancing your child's love of words. A child that is read to will grow up to be a reader. Reading is one of life's essential skills. Could you go a day without reading? Later on in your reading sessions, your child will associate the picture with the word and those pre-reading skills are golden.

What to Read
Books, picture books and even homemade picture stories are inexpensive and are available from the supermarket, drugstore and even the dollar store. Borrowing books from the local library is a frugal way to read to your child and their supply is always renewing. Grandparents, aunts and other family members are often at a loss when it comes to birthdays and other gift-giving holidays. Suggest an age-appropriate book club or magazine subscription. There are many sites on the Internet available with children's stories.

If you can't find a book to read, try your newspaper. You could read the comics together, the sports or lifestyle section. Don't be surprised when a child gets attached to one particular book. Be prepared to read that book over and over again.

The Atmosphere
When setting up a reading session, you'll need a cozy corner with good lighting and a comfortable chair or couch for both of you. Use a blanket to cuddle under and don't forget your book.

Set aside a special time to read to your child. Young children younger than 6 probably will be content with a 10- to 15-minute reading session. Give it a try! You may find it's as much fun for you as it is for your child.

Taken from, Book It: The Importance of Reading To Your Child ~ by Marie-Helen Goyetche

Great Literature for First Graders!

First and foremost, any book that interests your child is a great one. Books that captivate young minds encourage reading.

Here is a list of great literature in case you or your little one need some ideas...
www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org/childbooklist/storiesforfirstgraders.html

www.slco.lib.ut.us/firstgl.htm
This list was taken from, The Rochester Public Library. They have great lists for children of all ages!
www.rochesterpubliclibrary.org/childbooklist/index.htm

Should I read aloud to my school-aged child?

Family reading promotes a child's desire to read independently.
Family reading fosters improvement of a child's reading skills.
All through their school years, children can enjoy listening to
books too difficult to read alone, yet not beyond them intellectually.
Wonderful books that are hard to "get into" or have slow beginnings
are more accessible when read aloud.
For the student whose inability to read has barred him from
stimulating literature, reading aloud is absolutely essential!
Studies show that reading aloud significantly broadens interests
and tastes, helping children to grow intellectually.
Exposing children to good literature increases the chance that
reading will become a positive life-time pursuit.

Information retrieved from, The Rochester Public Library webpage.