Reading with Young Children

We hear it often: “Read to your child and your child will become a reader.” Excellent advice, but for those of us with very young children, it raises the question “How do I read to my infant or young toddler?”

The answer lies not so much in the HOW, but in the WHEN. As in all the time! Our environment is word-rich; everywhere we go there are signs, posters, and written instructions. Look for words and letters all around you: look at license plates as you walk through a parking lot, words on your sweatshirt, or signs on favorite stores. Find letters that are important to your child: the first letter of his name, M for Mom, D for Dad, W for Washington, pet names, siblings’ names, favorite friends’ names. You can find words, letters and numbers everywhere!

Starting from birth, your child loves your voice above every other sound. Talking and reading to your child teaches the patterns and rhythms of your spoken language (television does not provide these natural patterns). Read aloud from a book as you hold your newborn. Imagine the dual comfort of being held while hearing your favorite person’s voice! Point to pictures and talk about them so your child will begin to understand that what is on the page symbolizes something in his life…a prelude to reading!

Kindermusik is one such activity that helps your child’s interest in reading. Language skills are fostered with singing, sound imitation, and vocal play while Music & Movement Story Time encourages emergent literacy skills within the structure of the classroom experience. The home materials, if used on a regular basis, give parents the tools to continue this learning at home. Kindermusik also offers Sign & Sing to families with children 6 months through 3 years.