“Why do you read to children?
You read to them for the same reasons that you talk to them
— to explain, inform and to increase their imagination and vocabulary.”
– Read Aloud Together Booklet
For as long as I can remember Little man, our first born, was surrounded by books. His first books were purchased by grandma. He was even given books the day he was born while we were still in the hospital!
Reading became our bonding time before he could ever talk. We would sit and I would read and he would look at the pictures.
READ ALOUD IN ANY LANGUAGE
Your child will never use words he has never heard!
It wasn’t until I decided to really take the initiative to teach my kids Spanish that I began to include Spanish books in our reading time. I thought, perhaps if I read in Spanish, they will also learn the language. This was the easiest way to feel comfortable speaking Spanish to my kids, as many know it has been a struggle.
As the hubs and I read to the kids, they began to interact as they grew. Now at age 3 Little Man picks which stories he wants read. He reenacts what we read and even asks and answers questions.
My kids are so full of life and when we sit and talk their imagination runs wild. I like to think its books like Chicka Chicka Boom Boom or El Cerdito Wibbly that have encouraged my kids to think of the impossible. They think they can climb at the highest area of the playground like having the alphabet climb up a tree and drawing on my walls like that little pig, Wibbly who draws funny pictures.
As mentioned in the Read Aloud Together Booklet:
Reading Aloud. . . is the most valuable gift you can give to all your children.
. . . promotes early reading and helps children learn at all ages.
. . . helps children develop their language and vocabulary before they learn how to read and makes them academically ready to begin school. Children who are read to learn to read more easily than those who are not.
. . . creates your child’s “listening vocabulary” so he is ready to develop a “reading vocabulary”. This is true at least through grade eight.
. . . works because the “listening vocabulary “ is several years ahead of the reading vocabulary
. . . promotes values and a higher level of thinking. Children’s ability to understand what they read depends a lot on “background knowledge,” or what they already know. The more children are read to now, the better they will be able to process what they read later.
. . . shows children the joy of story, fascination of language and the beauty of the world, something outside of their own realm. Your children’s realms will expand because through
. . . you bring experiences to them. Your child will never use words he has never heard or read!
. . stimulates imagination, creativity and curiosity at all ages.
. . . helps children learn that print is meaningful and makes sense. They see how print can be turned into sound and speech.
. . . expands small children’s attention spans and critical thinking skills, even in the older age groups.
. . . helps your children succeed in school, in their future occupation, their community and in every part of their entire lives.
I encourage you to Download the Read Aloud Together Booklet to learn more about the importance of reading aloud to our kids!
Download a copy of the Read Aloud Together Booklet Here
Also available in Spanish, Leamos Juntos en Voz Alta Here
Big Thank you to Kiwanis of Santa Ana, CA for providing us with this booklet PDF!
I’d like to thank you, Our GUB friends, for joining us on this amazing
#GUBBASH to promote literacy and reading aloud!!!
Remember there is giveaways everyday this week!!!
GIVEAWAY: $20 Gift Card for Barnes & Noble
To ENTER
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Be a follower thru GFC &
Comment on this post answering the following question:
What was your favorite book as a child?
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Giveaway is open to U.S. residents 18 years + ONLY
giveaway ends December 18, 2011
11:59pm EST
Winner will be chosen at random using random.org
Winner will be emailed!
DISCLOSURE: This is not a sponsored post. Giveaway is provided by GUB.
[…] has always been important in our family. My mother is an advocate for Literacy and Reading Aloud to children. From a young age, she instilled the importance of a book. She has empowered many […]