Born To Read
August 31st 2006 21:03
What turns a child into a reader?
That is not an easy question to answer and I doubt there is a blanket response that would cover every child. But I do know one thing. The younger a child is introduced to books, the more likely they are to fall in love with them.
We run a ten week programme at our library called Born To Read which teaches parents the importance of books and reading to their 0-2 year old. It is a simple, straight forward approach to bring early childhood books into the home and everyday life. I have done several of these classes and they are a complete joy to do. We use board books, soft books, nursery rhymes, pop-up and flap books, which all the babies are allowed to handle. Within weeks you can see the change in these young children, and the excitement in their eyes when you begin to read a book. Even as young as 4-5 months this begins to happen. It is one of the easiest things you can do with a child this age, and it works. In only a few weeks you can establish a routine of reading that will stay with them their whole lives.
Mem Fox, one of Australia’s most prolific children’s authors and advocates of early reading has what she calls the ‘Ten Commandments’ when it comes to reading to children – which we avidly promote in our classes. And her book Reading Magic: How Your Child Can Learn To Read Before School is pure genius in the art of teaching children to read. The real trick is not to make it a lesson, but a joyful, fulfilling experience. One that they will what to continue to come back to.
Literacy problems are on the rise, we all know that. And I am always so disappointed when I hear comments about the ineptitude of schools and teachers when it comes to reading. If a child has not been read to or handled books on a daily basis by the time they get to school, I fail to see what chance school has of establishing this practice. Mind you, I’m talking about reading to a child here, not them reading to themselves. That comes later. Many times I’m asked by a young mother – ‘Will this programme turn my child into a reader?’
This is where wires can get crossed. Reading is a love that is developed over time. Some personalities are suited to it, others not.
What I believe is important to establish at this time is a growing awareness of books and reading. It should not be something that comes out of the blue once they go to school. Books should be everywhere, the bedroom, living room, toilet, car, holidays. They should see you reading, making shopping lists, checking facts. They should visit a library at least once a week. Let’s face it, a visit to the shopping mall would happen that often! And books are one of the best presents a child can receive.
Used as an everyday part of yours and your child’s life, you will find that reading will come as natural as talking to your child. If they grow into ‘readers’, that is because somewhere along the way they picked up a book and read something that made such an impact on them, consciously or not, they simply continued to read for the pure joy it brings.
Of course, it’s never too late to introduce books to children. Even if they never become avid readers, as long as they are able to read and comprehend books, what ever they decide to do in life, it will come that much easier to them. But I am a strong believer in parents and carers bringing books and reading to the very, very young, even if it’s for no other reason than to spend time together.
That is not an easy question to answer and I doubt there is a blanket response that would cover every child. But I do know one thing. The younger a child is introduced to books, the more likely they are to fall in love with them.
We run a ten week programme at our library called Born To Read which teaches parents the importance of books and reading to their 0-2 year old. It is a simple, straight forward approach to bring early childhood books into the home and everyday life. I have done several of these classes and they are a complete joy to do. We use board books, soft books, nursery rhymes, pop-up and flap books, which all the babies are allowed to handle. Within weeks you can see the change in these young children, and the excitement in their eyes when you begin to read a book. Even as young as 4-5 months this begins to happen. It is one of the easiest things you can do with a child this age, and it works. In only a few weeks you can establish a routine of reading that will stay with them their whole lives.
Image: www.memfox.com/welcome.html
Literacy problems are on the rise, we all know that. And I am always so disappointed when I hear comments about the ineptitude of schools and teachers when it comes to reading. If a child has not been read to or handled books on a daily basis by the time they get to school, I fail to see what chance school has of establishing this practice. Mind you, I’m talking about reading to a child here, not them reading to themselves. That comes later. Many times I’m asked by a young mother – ‘Will this programme turn my child into a reader?’
This is where wires can get crossed. Reading is a love that is developed over time. Some personalities are suited to it, others not.
What I believe is important to establish at this time is a growing awareness of books and reading. It should not be something that comes out of the blue once they go to school. Books should be everywhere, the bedroom, living room, toilet, car, holidays. They should see you reading, making shopping lists, checking facts. They should visit a library at least once a week. Let’s face it, a visit to the shopping mall would happen that often! And books are one of the best presents a child can receive.
Used as an everyday part of yours and your child’s life, you will find that reading will come as natural as talking to your child. If they grow into ‘readers’, that is because somewhere along the way they picked up a book and read something that made such an impact on them, consciously or not, they simply continued to read for the pure joy it brings.
Of course, it’s never too late to introduce books to children. Even if they never become avid readers, as long as they are able to read and comprehend books, what ever they decide to do in life, it will come that much easier to them. But I am a strong believer in parents and carers bringing books and reading to the very, very young, even if it’s for no other reason than to spend time together.
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