To each, their own
Feb 24 '01
The Bottom Line Kids will read when they are interested in what they are looking at-help them find that interest!
Getting kids interested in books isn't a chore-it's a delight! Kids are interested in whatever stimulates their minds, whether it is books, movies, toys or that interesting bug crawling along the sidewalk.
The trick is to point the kids in the right direction. As a librarian, this is one of the perks of the job.
Parents often come in and wander about the kid's section with their children, pointing out different areas and subject matters. I love it and think it's wonderful. Most parents and guardians understand that the trick to getting kids to read is to find out what interests them.
Taking out a few books and reading aloud to toddlers as they cruise around looking at the other books is a great way to start. Let them search and watch carefully for the areas and topics that attract them. I have certain kids that absolutely love Dinosaurs and everything that has to do with dinosaurs. Other kids only want books on bugs. Bugs, bugs and more bugs:). Reading aloud to the toddlers while they cruise among the hard-covered "early" books is a great idea. As they are exploring on their own, they are listening to you divide spoken words into individual sounds, or blend individual sounds into spoken words. It all becomes a pattern for them eventually and reading aloud to children is the first step for excellent vocabulary building. The connection between being read to aloud and good readers is astonishing.
I love when moms and dads are amazed at their children's personalities. "He's only three, but he can't get enough books on whales! He just wants to read this one whale book over and over again!" Isn't it wonderful, finding the key to what makes your child tick? Sometimes it's very hard to do. I know with my own child, she doesn't enjoy reading as much as I did at her age. However, if the book is about extreme silliness, like the Barf-o-rama series, she's interested in it! I say yuckkk.....but, at least she is reading!
Your local library offers a weekly or semi monthly story time. This free service is a delight to children, and a wonderful way to get kids involved in reading and writing through the stimulation of animated stories. At my library, we do storytime weekly, and often use puppets and props along with the story. This week's story time included some hints on dental care, and we were even able to provide free toothbrushes to every child!
Make sure you are taking advantage of your library's reading hour, and if your library does not offer one then try another library close to your home. Many times neighboring libraries will allow you to partake in their programs.
Guide your kids to a path where they can discover on their own their likes and dislikes, but do not expect them to do this without some help and guidance from you. The choice is ultimately theirs, but do help them along the way with literary nudges and smiles.
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Epinions.com ID:
AngelaBar
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Location: NY
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