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.
Reading theory
Picture is worth 1,000 words to a toddler
To a pre-reader, words aren’t the main attraction. As a parent, you can read the words to your child sometimes… and then other times, don’t be afraid to ignore the words. You can go through an entire picture book with your toddler, pointing to the pictures and talking about them. Identify […]
Bubbles are fragile things
I resolve not to burst my kid’s bubble. I’ve been noticing lately that kids are subjected to a lot of scolding. The problem with scolding is that it can so easily be the cold bucket of water that douses the flames of creativity. Here’s what I mean. Kid: “Hey mom, […]
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.
Why adults should read children’s books
When kids see adults reading they’re more likely to read, themselves. It isn’t just a theory, there’s been research done on this.
When a kid sees an adult reading a children’s book, he’s even more likely to read. Try picking up a kid’s book for yourself the next time you’re at the library; the effect on your child will be very interesting.
My literacy colleague, Jen Robinson, has a slew of other great reasons why adults should read children’s literature.
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 […]
How to build reading success
Could this be Snappy the mouse? Well, no, I made him up. But if there was a mouse named Snappy, this would be him. In a bi-plane. Image: by Dvortygirl. Here’s a great way to help your child succeed at reading and at the same time develop a love of books… […]
Reading is a language
My son called me over. “Mom,” he said,”remember when I used to look at a word like ‘fox’ and I’d sit there, trying to sound it out? And it would take forever?!” “Yes,” I said. “Well, isn’t it funny,” he said, “that now I just blast through sentences and pages […]
Seen in Blockbuster: books!
Get your kids reading by telling them about the movie or TV show. I don’t visit Blockbuster very often. So it was a revelation to to me that they had a book rack filled with the book versions of about a dozen popular movies. That is great. I’m a big […]
