We are jumping right into it today and I'm here to bust three common literacy myths:
1. My baby isn’t old enough for books.
Imagine this, your baby is 3 months old and cannot talk so you don’t talk to him. He can’t talk on his own so he must not need to be talked to right? He can’t even understand you. WRONG! You would never do that right? So why wouldn’t you read to your baby? Reading to babies from birth provides nearly endless developmental benefits both cognitively and emotionally! Reading to your infant is an incredible bonding experience that can help to establish strong attachment bonds. The sound of a parents voice is proven to be very soothing and calming to babies. They are also learning the natural rhythm of speech, inflection, and tone when they listen to you read. An important step in learning to talk and later to read independently. Studies have shown that children who were read to regularly from infancy went on to have higher mathematical skills, higher test scores, and larger vocabularies. As babies eye sight develops books show them a variety of shapes, colors, and letters that they will eventually begin to recognize. They will begin to explore books using their hands and mouths, feeling different textures and materials is another important factor in brain development. Listening to stories and particularly watching a parent read them aloud also aids in emotional development. They begin to mimic expressions and sounds you make, recognize the relationship between tone and emotion. These are all important social and emotional skills they will need for life. I could keep going but I think you get the point. Your baby is not too young for books ;)
2. My kids are too old to be read too.
Although your kids may be old enough to read independently it doesn't mean they are too old for reading aloud too. The benefits for reading aloud with your children are numerous and still important even through their middle school and teen years. Did you know that reading aloud can meet four out of the five love languages? It’s words of affirmation, quality time, an act of service, and can often be physical touch if you're snuggled up together! When these needs are met you are strengthening the bond with your child and helping to establish a solid psychological and emotional foundation for them. Reading aloud with your older kids can provide a common interest and opportunities for conversation and exchanging of ideas. Having conversations where their ideas are valued and respected does so much for a child’s confidence and self esteem. Reading aloud can be a great starting point for sensitive or difficult topics like bullying, relationships, race, and more. A discussion sparked by a book may be more well received by your child than a lecture or speech. Did you know that listening comprehension is often higher for most people than reading comprehension? Meaning your child can listen to and understand higher level text than they can comprehend when reading it on their own. Reading aloud is a great time to explore classic literature or a book that piques their interest but is above their reading level. Studies have found that children benefit from reading aloud well into their teens and i'm willing to bet even as adults!
3. My kids don’t like to read
When a child says they don’t like to read there could be a few underlying reasons. The first could be that they are struggling to read and need some additional help or different techniques to assist them. If this is the case I would recommend speaking with your child’s teacher or pediatrician for more help. Another reason could be that they are turned off to reading emotionally. They may be associating reading with “work” and not seeing it as something fun. Luckily there are a few ways to turn that around. The first is to offer a variety of types of books and see what piques their interest. Even better if you can let them choose their own books! Maybe they prefer non fiction books to fantasy! Maybe the engaging illustrations of a graphic novel appeal to them more than a traditional novel. Maybe they like their books with a heavy dose of humor or a character they can relate too. Maybe they need books with flaps or other tactile elements to keep their hands busy. Maybe they need to be read aloud to while they are coloring or building with legos. Maybe they would prefer the short articles in a magazine or the straightforward steps in a recipe. Reading isn't one size fits all and it may take some time to find the right “fit” for your child but it’s important to do so.
Do you need help finding the right books for your kids? Maybe an Illustrated version of a classic novel for a family read aloud! How about some cloth books for your little love bug to explore? Thinking that your hard to entertain toddler might enjoy a sturdy interactive book? It would be my pleasure to help you find whatever it is your family needs for your home library! You can find me on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/usbornewithalora or contact me through my website at https://u7958.myubam.com/
Happy Reading!
