Reading with children is lots of fun and helps them to:
- Develop language and listening skills
- Increase their vocabularies
- Learn about other people and customs
- Explore a variety of places and situations
- Expand their world
- Become good readers
- Select books that highlight the themes in the programs your children have viewed. If a program has dealt with cooperation read a story in which the characters work together toward a common goal.
- Discuss similarities between the books and what happens in the program. Ask the children if anything in the book reminds them of something they saw on a television program. Encourage them to relate their own experiences to what they are hearing and what they have seen.
- Encourage your children to read to you. For the beginning reader suggest a familiar book. Let them know that their variations on the text are fine. Once your children are comfortable reading suggest you take turns reading books together.
- Encourage your children to write their own books based on stories they've read and programs they've watched. Encourage them to illustrate the pages. Keep paper and water color markers available so they can create their own books whenever they wish. Save scraps of construction tissue and wrapping papers to encourage torn and cut paper illustrations. If you have access to a computer encourage your children to write and illustrate their story on the computer.
- Enjoy listening to stories on Reading Rainbow, Arthur, Storytime and Wishbone.
- Check your favorite stories out from your school or public library so you can enjoy them again and again.
- Make reading time special. Have a comfortable reading area with a rug and pillows or bean bag chairs and some favorite plush creatures to snuggle with. Enjoy reading chapter books together.