Hi,
These days children are found lacking the proper vocabulary and lagging behind in communicative skills owing to the fact that they are lacking the proper practice of reading or being read out loud.
Why so?
Regular reading can help your child develop an enriched vocabulary, increase attention span, grab complicated themes and plots more easily and above all regular reading practices can invest your child with moral values as well. Apart from these reading aloud is one of the best ways to inspire your child to become a successful reader.
At the same time more and more regular reading practice strengthens a child’s thinking abilities by exposing them to a rich variety of literature. A variety of thinking strategies enable them to expand their views of the world and empower them with critical thinking abilities.
As it is discussed in one of the earlier posts that the practice of reading aloud to and with your kids has magical benefits to their minds and characters, today in this post some of the important tips to successfully execute such a magical activity are served.
But, before I begin, I must say that while reading aloud you should present yourself in an attractive way so that your reading makes your kids pinned to their places and feel involved in it. Otherwise, you would probably miss the desired effect of such a wonderful activity. You can consider this book. Here are ample suggestions that you may love.
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1. No Prejudice
Remember, it would absolutely be unwise to underestimate the abilities of a child. Many of us think that children of age group 1 -6 are the ones who actually need reading practices to start reading on their own. Before and after this age group reading aloud to them might seem unnecessary and just a wastage of time.
Researches show that reading to a child below the age group of 1- 6 makes him or her understand words and phrases as well as the world a bit faster than expected.
At the same time, reading practices must not be paused when children are able to read on their own. This is just the beginning of the journey, a crucial time that makes them able to comprehend complex thoughts and expressions and form new sentences to convey their thoughts. Such an ability can only be achieved through reading or being read to.
So, don’t underestimate the power of a young child. Don’t think of what they can’t do. Think of the possibilities they can achieve. Rather they will delve deeper into their texts with fewer pictures, more time and attention in course of time.
2. The Right Story
First of all, what you need to do is choose texts that suit well with what the children feel interested in or those that make them respond with ease. Books with a clear plot, illustrative pictures or cartoons, lively characters with vivid language can be a good choice. Let them feel the joy and entertainment of reading an engaging story and make them predict the storyline for it will make them feel engaged and interested.
3. Expression Required
At a very beginning level, it appears difficult for children to understand the meaning as well as perceive the emotional feelings of the text being read to them. Hearing a story or the subject contained in a familiar voice makes them enjoy the experience. To make this experience fruitful you need to read the text with proper as well as required expressions in your voice and tone so that your reading may make them able to differentiate between what is read and what is meant.
For example reading or delivering in different voice tones or high and low pitches, in different accents for different characters can be a useful way to make a story lively, vivid and interesting as well.
Apart from that your facial expression while reading to your kids is equally important too. They do watch and follow you while you are reading to them. It makes easier for especially young learners to grab the essence of the matter being read to them when they see you are reacting to the story with emotions (joy, anger, hatred, worry etc.) in your face as it goes on even if they don’t know the meanings of certain words and expressions.
4. Make Reading Conversational
Reading aloud with proper expression and voice effect can kindle the listeners to interact with the reader. Fuel it. Reading to your kids doesn’t just mean simply reading a story and explaining it. Reading a touching or a tragic story in an engaging voice makes them ask questions about the plot, relate to the emotions buried underneath. Undoubtedly such an involvement boosts their self-confidence, communicative and interpersonal skills. So, make them communicate with both you and the story you read to them as much as possible.
In addition to that, try to pass some comments on the different point of views of the story a bit. Such kind of trick would make the story unique to them, personalized and make them feel that they are not just listening to a story but living in it.
5. Allot a Daily Hour
It’s not necessary to strictly maintain a daily schedule for reading aloud to them. Rather, you should give them enough time to enjoy being read to at least thrice or an hour a week. It’s ok to allow a daily schedule but you should prefer to be flexible enough. Prefer for reading to your kids whenever you spend sweet moments together or before going to bed. Express your parental affection while doing so and let them have a discussion on the text being read with you. They will enjoy the time spent together and perhaps from then onwards, they might ask you for having another session like that. Isn’t that great?
6. Readers Need to Be Patient
Children who haven’t had the privilege of being read to from their early age might discourage their parents. Don’t be so. In most cases, they are found attentive while listening to an interesting story. Sometimes they may wince about or interrupt in the process but it’s acceptable and quite normal as well. Don’t be surprised if he or she tends to extend your reading time before going to bed. Apart from that the attention span of some of them might ascend while listening to you. It means, since the desired effect won’t show up at the start, you need to be patient enough in the beginning.
The most astonishing part of being read aloud to is that it develops an interest in reading and perhaps in some cases grows a fondness for reading in their later life as well.
7. Pictures and Graphics
While reading to kids we often tend to cover up the pictures given side by side with the story. Kids will show more interest in those pictures than the text you are reading to them if you try to do so. I always hold the page with pictures and graphics out to them while reading aloud. This makes the story or the matter livelier. In fact, listeners can easily relate to the theme of the story and imagine themselves involved with the plot.
8. Characters are Important Too
Just listening to a story with a number of characters in it may seem dull to your kids. To make the experience personal and engaging, replacing the names of the characters with that of your family members can be considered. This kind of strategy would make them feel important and they might imagine themselves living in the story. But make sure it’s a positive role that you are replacing your child with. They will ask you to read more.
9. Reactions
After listening to an engaging story with lively expressions and characters, it’s obvious to have an outburst of emotions and reactions among the kids and if you are ignoring to acknowledge the same they might feel disheartened and discouraged. Listen to them as much as possible for it might encourage them and make them feel important.
10. Interact with Questions at the End
It’s a good practice to make them think about the story by asking them questions about the plot, characters, how different problems in the story were solved, what they individually liked about the story and why and so on. As we know comprehension is necessary for brain work, it’s always recommended to have full-fledged sessions of such exercises to evaluate the mental development of the listeners as well as their interest in both reading and listening.
Let me know your views regarding these ways to improve your reading skill. Which one do you lack from the tips listed above and which among them are you skilled in? Comment below.
Bye for now. Have a good time.
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