Reading to children during the first three years of their life is so important that the American Academy of Pediatrics has just included it in recommendations to new parents. Starting this week, the more than 62,000 pediatricians in the U.S. will not only give the usual breast-feeding and immunization advice […]
Tag: research
World Read-Aloud Day is Wed., March 7
It’s very important to read to your child. In fact, we consider it one of the top three most important things you can do to help your kid develop a love of reading. Every day – but especially on Wed., March 7 – take the time to read to your child. […]
Give your child the message that reading is fun
If reading’s not really your thing, make sure you’re not passing along that message to your children. Let them see reading as a fun and exciting activity. And it will be.
Five minutes to bridge the racial achievement gap
I’ve been reading this book – Choke. (Because I tend to choke at tennis, that’s why.) But it’s got some really interesting things to say that will help your kid with test anxiety. Researchers were studying what happens to African-Americans, for instance, who experience racism throughout their life. These students can have something […]
In praise of praising
I read an article in which the author says, basically, most praise is bad. It stayed with me, because: 1) I know that as a parent I probably do praise too much; and 2) he’s probably right; and 3) I’m not going to stop praising my son. Alfie Kohn is a […]
Literacy Lava newsletter has great tips
The new edition of Literacy Lava, a free e-zine for parents with great literacy articles and ideas, is now available. You can download the .pdf from The Book Chook, here. I’ve got an article in it, and there are lots of other great articles including: * Writing tips for kids; […]
Remarkable research on kids’ ability to self-instruct
Here’s why we say you should “scatter books around the house.”
I want you to watch this exciting speech by Sugata Mitra on TED.com that illustrates the extent to which kids can teach themselves.
Through his “Hole in the Wall” project he conducted a series of experiments in 1999.
Give your kid more – he can handle it
Every new mom knows that her baby understands more than he can say. You say to a baby, “milk!” and that baby brightens right up. Long before he can speak, he understands.
That amazing, ahead-of-the-curve process never stops, as long as kids are constantly challenged with new ideas and offered the chance to learn new skills.
I’m not advocating French flash cards for infants or War and Peace for a toddler. But I am saying that your kids can handle more than you think.
What does work
What does work.
Reading to your kid every day. The number-one thing you can do to create a reader.
Letting him see you read. Kids do what their parents do. If you don’t enjoy reading – fake it. Or read magazines or comic books or something.
Surrounding your kid with books. Access to books gives a kid ownership and once they feel entitled to books they’re more likely to casually pick them up – now and throughout their life.
Access to printed materials does help
What impact, if any, does access to print materials have on our children’s reading? A lot, according to extensive research by RIF, Reading Is Fundamental, a non-profit children’s literacy organization based in Washington, DC. Owning and borrowing books from the library causes, “positive behavioural, educational and psychological outcomes.” In other […]