Making the Most of Reading to or with Your Children: Part 2--Preschool

Here are some methods to make reading a fun and engaging activity for your preschool aged student.

Have Fun

According to the National Education Association (NEA), www.nea.org, making reading with preschoolers an enjoyable and memorable experience is as easy as having fun with it. The website encourages parents to make characters come alive by using different voices or expressions. Reading stories with rhythm and rhyme also gives you the opportunity to make the patterns more pronounced, and if you encourage your student to mimic the rhymes, you're allowing your child to play their part in the story as well.

Create New Memories and Experiences

The NEA encourages you to give your child a break from the standard after-school activities by taking them to a local zoo or park. Introducing your child to new animals, flowers, playground toys, and vehicles enables them to recognize these things when they're referenced in a story, Increasing your child's awareness of the world around them makes them more familiar with the worlds they will encounter through books.

Learn the ABC's

Introduce exercises into your reading experiences now that will help your child identify letters or the arrangement of letters later. The NEA encourages parents to sing the Alphabet Song with your child if he or she is curious about the letters on the page. Asking children to identify the difference in shape and color between illustrations prepares them for distinguishing between letters when it comes time for them to read independently.

Expand Your Child's Mind

Pay attention to the responsibilities of role as a parent and ask questions that your child might not think to ask. Priming his or her mind to recognize story structure can be done by asking, 'what might happen next?' Asking your child to comment on the story or repeat parts of the story back to you encourages memory and focus.

Maintain Interest

Combine reading with a comfort item like a favorite blanket or toy. Allow your child to choose books that interest them. Your child will be excited about what they have selected and will be more likely to pay attention. Reading will become of a greater interest to your child if they see you reading in your spare time. So set a good example and take time to read a book, magazine, or newspaper in the in the evening rather than watching television or spending time on the computer.