Read Aloud Tips

Read to your child early and often!

• Read to your child as early as possible. Infancy is a good time to start.
• Read, sing and practice rhymes and songs. Children need to hear rhythms and patterns.
• Read often.
• Have a traditional time of day to read such as after supper or bedtime.
• Cultivate the art of listening gradually. Young listeners have short attention spans. Take cues from your child. It will lengthen with time.
• Move from board books to picture books to story books and then to novels as your child grows.
• Vary the subject matter. Don’t forget about poetry, fiction, myths and legends, nonfiction, biographies and autobiographies, etc.
• Vary the reading forms. Read books, magazines, newspapers, comics, reference materials, etc.
• Read above your child’s reading level to challenge his listening level.
• Allow time for your child to get settled in a comfortable position to be ready to listen.
• Make sure your child can see the illustrations of the book.
• Allow for time to discuss the book after you read. Process the content with dialogue.
• Practice reading the book aloud to yourself before you read it to your child.
• Use expression in your voice when you read. Be dramatic.
• Adjust the pace of your reading where appropriate. Some parts you may draw out to build suspense; other parts may speed up a bit.
• Take time to read slowly and articulate the words. This gives time for your child to mentally visualize and to see the details in the illustrations.
• Preview the book in order to decide if and when to shorten, eliminate or elaborate the text.
• Learn about the author. The library has excellent author sources. Pass the information on to your child.
• If your child needs activity while you read, consider paper, pencil and crayons, squeeze toys, etch-a-sketch or other items to keep busy hands busy while listening to a story.
• Take books everywhere with you: your purse, your car, the diaper bag. They come in handy to fill in waiting time.
• Be sure Dad reads to your child and takes him to the library.
• Regulate TV time. Set a limit and be consistent.
• Read books you enjoy to your child. Enthusiasm is catching.
• Abandon a book that turns out to be a poor choice at the time.
• Be sure you have enough time to do a book justice. Start and finish.
• When reading is interrupted with questions, answer them with patience. Foster curiosity and resume reading.
• Model, model, model! Children do as we do. Demonstrate what you want from them.