From Academic Success to Self-esteem Building

Introduction

Reading with children is one of the most important things you can do as a parent or caregiver. As an adult, you have an opportunity to help your child build their literacy skills from the very beginning, which will help them succeed in school and later in life.

Why are stories important?

Reading to and with children is one of the most important things you can do to support their intellectual, emotional, and social development. Here are some reasons why:

Reading helps children develop language skills and literacy skills. When you read together, you give your child an opportunity to hear new words, learn about syntax (the way sentences are formed), and practice reading aloud.
Reading fosters a love of books and reading in young children. When parents read books that they love aloud to their kids—and when kids see their parents enjoying reading—they're more likely to become lifelong readers themselves! This is true even if the parent isn't great at reading out loud (we'll talk about how you can improve this below).
Stories help kids develop empathy for others because they learn about other people's experiences through characters in stories who act differently than they would have acted themselves under similar circumstances; this means that by reading stories together as a family (or individually), your child will be able to think critically about different perspectives before making decisions based on what he/she knows other people might do instead of simply following his/her own impulses alone.

How can I help my child become a good reader?

When it comes to reading, parents and caregivers play a vital role. Research shows that children who are read to develop stronger language skills and are better readers in later years. Here's how you can help your child become a good reader:

Read to them. Reading is one of the most important activities for young children; it helps build their vocabulary, expands their interests, teaches them about the world around them, and stimulates their imagination. Even if your child is not quite ready for books yet, you can still engage with him or her by pointing out words as you read aloud from books or magazines together.
Encourage them to read on their own. As soon as your child starts recognizing letters and sounds in words (around age 4), encourage him or her to try sounding out simple sentences using those letters—whether that means looking up words in an easy-to-read book about household objects or writing sentences using pictures instead of print—and then make it fun by adding stickers when they get something right! The more often kids practice reading on their own now, the more likely they'll be able to do so independently later on down the road!

What are the different ways to read with a child?

You may be thinking, “I don't know how to read aloud to a child!” or maybe you think that reading with your kids is only for very young children. But the fact is that reading aloud can be enjoyed by everyone—including adults! Reading aloud is one of the most popular ways for parents and caregivers to connect with their kids. It doesn't take much: all you need is a book and someone who loves spending time together.

Asking questions about what's happening in the story, making predictions about what might happen next in the story, discussing characters' motivations and feelings about events in the book can help keep children engaged throughout an entire reading session. This type of interaction between parent and child helps build language skills (which are essential for beginning readers) while also promoting critical thinking skills needed later on when they're learning how to write essays themselves!

What does reading look like for babies and toddlers?

Reading to your child is a shared experience that gives you and your child a chance to bond. Reading can also help teach new words, give children practice with using books, and encourage them when they're learning how to use the library.

Babies and toddlers will learn language through hearing it spoken around them; they'll begin developing their own language skills by imitating what's said around them. You may even notice that baby babble sounds like real words! The more children hear language, the faster they start making connections between sounds and meanings—and the sooner those connections become automatic for them, leading up to when they're able to read on their own.

If you're reading out loud with your baby or toddler (instead of just pointing out pictures), try matching the rhythm of what you say with what's happening in the story. For example: "The cat jumped onto [pause]...the table." This helps kids understand where one word ends before another starts—which makes it easier for them later on when they start reading independently because there won't be any confusion about where one word starts versus another begins within a sentence.

How can caregivers help young children learn through language experiences, and how should the family routine be changed in order to support this type of learning?

Read to your child

Doing so allows you to introduce a range of vocabulary, concepts and story structures. You will also be able to guide your child's thinking about the world around them by pointing out things in the pictures or asking questions that require them to think more deeply about what they are reading. For example, the book The Three Billy Goats Gruff has some very descriptive passages where the narrator describes what all three billy goats look like and how they behave, which can be used as an opportunity for young children to practice describing things that are happening in stories and real life situations.

Talk with your child

Children learn language through conversations with family members who use it as part of their everyday lives; this includes chatting about things that are going on around them (a favourite hobby), describing events that happened earlier that day (going shopping) or telling jokes (Why did the chicken cross road? To get away from his wife!). Providing opportunities like this for open-ended discussion helps children understand how language works within different contexts – when talking about something serious versus something humorous – which is important if they are going learn how tell stories themselves!

What should adults do when reading with babies and toddlers?

You can make reading a shared experience, so that your little one feels involved in the story.

You can:

Read to them. Reading is one of the best ways to help your child learn language and build vocabulary. The more you read with your child, the more they’ll come to love books and develop an interest in reading on their own.
Read with them—in front of them or walking alongside as they push a stroller, for example—rather than just reading on their own while they watch TV or play in another room (they may learn more quickly if they see you turning pages).
Talk about the pictures as much as possible when reading picture books; ask questions like “What do you think will happen next?” or “What do you see on this page?” It will make it easier for children who don't yet know how to read to guess what might happen next based off of clues from illustrations alone.

Reading with a child gives them exposure to books, but it also helps them develop important foundations for their later academic success.

Reading with your children helps them learn important vocabulary, develop a love of books and reading, and it allows you to share your love of reading with them. Reading with a child also helps them develop language skills by exposing them to new words and concepts. As they grow up, books are one of the best tools for developing their vocabulary, which can help prepare them for success in school. In addition to helping build their confidence in learning, reading allows you and your child to enjoy spending time together.

Conclusion

Reading with our children is a great way to show them how much we love them and want to help them succeed in life. It’s also an opportunity for us as parents to share our love of reading, which can be a lifelong passion that brings joy and enrichment for everyone involved. Reading is one of the most important skills a child can learn. It helps them develop their imagination and creativity, while also improving their vocabulary and spelling. Reading with your child regularly can also help them become better listeners and thinkers, as well as boost their self-confidence.

Reading with your child is an opportunity to bond and spend quality time together. It’s also a chance for you to show them that reading is fun and rewarding—and that they can do it too! Reading with your child is one of the best ways to foster their love of reading. It’s a great way for you and your child to bond, spend quality time together and encourage them to develop their imagination and creativity. Reading together will also help your child learn new words and improve their vocabulary and spelling.

Additional reading you can do about the topic:

Berk, L. (2002). Infants and Children: Prenatal Through Middle Childhood. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Bisback, K. & Kopf-Johnson, L. (2007). An Introduction to School-Age Care in Canada. Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada Inc.
Bjorklund, D. (2000). Children’s Thinking: Developmental Function and Individual Differences. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Bowman, B., Donovan, S. & Burns, M. (2001). Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers. National Research Council. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
Bubikova-Moan, J., Næss Hjetland, H., & Wollscheid, S. (2019). ECE teachers’ views on play-based learning: a systematic review. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 27(6), 776–800. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2019.1678717
Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E. & Gardner, M. (2017). Effective teacher professional development. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/effective-teacher-professional-development-report

Reading and Storytelling: What Every Parent and Caregiver Must Know