Reading a story has become part of the bedtime
routine for generations of children. What parents may not realize is the
importance of the bedtime story in developing a young child’s interest in
reading. Here are three benefits of reading aloud to your child everyday.
Emotional
Bonding
When a parent and child snuggle together to share
a story, the emotional bond between them is strengthened. Children relate the
warm reassurance that comes from this experience to books. This builds positive
feelings about books and reading.
Sense of
Story
The bedtime story gives children a sense of what
reading is all about. As adults, we take for granted our understanding that
books tell a complete, sequential story with a beginning, middle, and an
end. Children need experiences with many
books before they develop a sense of story.
By listening to others read aloud, children learn that all stories share
certain characteristics, such as a title, plot, characters, and conclusion. They
begin to listen for these elements in order for the story to make sense. Listening for information gives children the
comprehension skills they need as beginning readers.
How
Language Works
Did you know that young children often think that
adults are telling the story by
looking at the pictures rather than by reading the words? This is because they are looking at the pictures so
think the reader is too! After more experiences with books, children begin to
understand that the print on the page actually has meaning. They begin to distinguish between the function
of the text and the illustrations. These leads to an awareness of print in
their immediate environment and children will begin to recognize words on
products, store signs, and television commercials. It is through these
experiences with print in books and their environment that children make the
transition from prereader to accomplished reader.
It is never
too soon or too late to begin the bedtime story habit with your child. The earlier you begin reading to your child
the better. Also, it is important that
parents share story time with their children even after they are reading on
their own.
Here are three resources to help parents make the most of the bedtime story:
The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
Reading for the Love of It, Best Books for YoungReaders by Michele Landsberg
The New York Times Parents Guide to the Best Booksfor Children by Eden Ross Lipson.
Kids often think adults are telling the story by looking at the pictures, rather than by reading the words. That's a great nugget I didn't know. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt's a little thing called "print awareness." Children who do not yet understand the function of print just assume the story is being told from the illustrations. If you read "Where the Wild Things Are" aloud to a group of preschoolers, you may have several demanding that you READ when you come to the wordless illustrations of the wild rumpus.
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