by: Connie Leyendi
Joys and Importance of Reading
Recent research indicates that seventy percent of high
school graduates are unable to read at the twelfth grade
level. In many cases, reading is subordinated to other
actvities in children's lives. Is that what you want for
your child? If not, get your kids interested in books at
an early age.
Your voice is your baby's most beloved sound. Take
advantage of your baby's natural inclination to focus
on the sound of your voice and read aloud to him. When
your baby fatigues or becomes distracted by other
stimuli, stop reading and resume at a time when you and
your child are ready to return to it. Preschool children
whose parents read aloud to them an average of twenty
minutes daily scored significantly higher on assignments
and tests in school. Create the habit of read-aloud time
with your baby now, and he will likely beg you for that
time when he is old enough to do so!
Create pleasant associations with reading time for your
child. Fix her a favorite snack or beverage to enjoy
while listening to you or while the two of you listen to
a recorded story. Make reading time a pleasant escape for
both you and she eagerly anticipate.
Later, when kids enter elementary school, consider
offering incentives or rewards for reading books. You
might want to pay a penny a page, or provide extra time
on the computer for reading a certain number of pages each
day. Be sure to quiz your child about the books that are
read to be sure the books were both completed and
understood.
Show your children the value of reading in your own life.
Put fun magazines (for both you and your children) out
where the children can see and examine them. Check out
classic literature from the local library and allow your
children to see the enjoyment you get from reading it.
Ever hear the expression, "The apple doesn't fall far from
the tree?" Children whose parents value and enjoy reading
tend to value and enjoy reading, too.
Keep a good supply of wholesome literature around the
house. You can buy it cheaply at yard sales or thrift
shops. Don’t be afraid to restrict television or computer
time. Lacking these options, your children may be more apt
to pick up a tale of excitement or adventure and soon
develop their own love for the written word.