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The Literate Bear encourages early childhood reading literacy. Here are some tips that we hope you will find helpful for assisting a young child in their quest to learn how to read:
- Encourage children to have fun reading - reading sessions should be kept short for young children to avoid feelings of frustration and boredom. Keep reading sessions as happy and positive as possible, so that young children learn to associate reading with good, positive memories.
- Read aloud as often as possible to children - reading aloud to a child helps them to understand that printed words on a page have meaning. Point to each word as you read to help the child associate the printed word with the sound and pronunciation of the word. In addition to reading books aloud, read magazines, street signs, cereal boxes, menus, and anything else aloud that might help the child to understand that reading is a part of everyday living.
- Encourage children to find a special place to sit and read where they feel comfortable - children should have a well-lit area with a comfortable chair or place to sit. If possible, provide a low bookcase that children can easily reach to store their favorite books and other reading materials. Young children will often pretend to read to their stuffed animals or dolls and will gather them up and take them to their favorite reading place. Allowing children to read to their stuffed animals and dolls will help them to feel good about reading and will create positive memories for them since they are interacting with possessions for which they have warm, happy feelings.
- Encourage children to set aside a special time each day to read - read aloud to children every day. Set aside a special time each day to read with a child, such as after dinner or at bedtime. Reading every day with a child helps to set a pattern that will encourage the child to enjoy reading as part of their everyday life.
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