It’s no secret that a strong foundation in reading is one of the keys to your child’s success in school. But did you know that when you read aloud to your child – every day – you can dramatically boost his reading success?
Here are some of the ways reading aloud can help your student learn to love reading:
Improving Listening and Comprehension Skills
At its most basic level, reading aloud helps children improve their critical listening and comprehension skills. Young children often have short attention spans, so involving them in the story – with voices, with sound effects, with questions – is essential. Have fun with it!
Choosing just the right stories is also important, and this may take some trial and error. But once you hit on the topics and plot lines that excite your child, he will be begging each night for “just one more page!”
Building a Vast Vocabulary
Reading aloud is an easy, organic way to build a child’s vocabulary, because humans learn the meaning of words in context better than by just rote memorization. While reading, when you come to a word your child doesn’t understand, provide a brief explanation that works within the context of the story.
As an example, in The Magic Treehouse series, Jack finds a gold medallion with the letter "M" on it. Since the word medallion isn’t in the average 1st grader’s vocabulary, take the opportunity to explain and maybe even share a picture. (Just keep a phone handy in case you need to look up a photo.)
Increasing Critical Thinking Skills
As you read together with your child, the hero or heroine of your story may run into a problem (or two!). By discussing the situation together, you can help your child’s problem-solving abilities start to grow.
When reading Goldilocks and the Three Bears, for example, ask what they would do in such a peculiar situation. At the conclusion of the story, you can also probe to see if they agree with the tale’s outcome. Your child may even have an alternate ending that will surprise you!
Other Benefits
A parent is their child’s first teacher. And by reading aloud, you are sharing much more than a cozy bedtime “wind down routine” each night. By showing children how we enjoy reading, they are much more likely to enjoy it, as well.
And, reading together about difficult issues in age-appropriate stories can be a great way to spark a conversation about challenging topics such as bullying. Following a plotline and reading from a character’s perspective may more gently initiate what could have been a difficult conversation.
According to a recent article at NPR, How reading aloud can help you bond with your kids and make them better readers, “Use reading aloud to start conversations that can help your child deal with the now of wherever we are in the world. It could lead to something you may not have expected. For example, when it comes to anxiety and worry, a caregiver could use a picture book that specifically deals with that topic and turn that into an opportunity for a child to share what worries they are carrying.”
Finally, reading aloud can be inspiring! Reading a story about a particular interest – from hiking, to growing vegetables, to painting – can ignite a new interest or hobby for your own child.
Don’t Forget the Big Kids, Too
Long after your children can read on their own, they still benefit tremendously from being read aloud to. According to educator Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, "A child's reading level doesn't catch up to his listening level until eighth grade." Vocabulary and comprehension will only continue to improve, even if your child is already proficient on his own.
For older children, reading aloud also sparks curiosity. Introducing non-fiction, poetry, and novels broadens your child’s horizons.
Finally, no matter what age, reading together is a bonding experience that creates memories which last a lifetime.
Find Easy Access to a World of Free Books at Your Public Library
A library card is your child’s most important school supply. At the library, you gain access to tens of thousands of stories for kids of all ages. And, it is absolutely free.
To get your card, simply complete a registration form at any Public Library and present it with a photo ID. Children under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present to sign for the card.