Children’s Book Week 2010

This is Children’s Book Week and it’s really not a new thing.  It began in the early 1900’s to encourage adults to bring books into the home and read with their children. 

I’ve been researching how many parents really believe that children’s books are an important part of their children’s lives.  There’s agreement that it’s a top priority.  Going further with questioning, I wanted to know if they read to their children regularly.  Most answered ‘yes’.  Still another question posed was, “Do you believe that you can wait for your child to begin school for them to start to learn to read?”  The unfortunate answer by many parents was, ‘yes’.  They felt the teachers in the school system would teach their child to read, so no attempts beyond reading books to them was necessary. 

Do You Encouraging Reading Like Your Mother Did?

The interesting thing is, that was the same attitude we took as our children were growing up.  I did not come from a homeschooling background and it really was not considered an option when my children were young.  I would repeat with them what was taught to me by my mother.  She believed in phonics…sounding out words and sitting on the couch with us next to her or an older sibling reading from our school book.  We have a son who had a hard time with reading, and the school stepped in by putting him in a ‘slow-reader’ program with a lot of stigma attached to the group.  The principal told me all the information on his record would be ‘expunged’ after he left the program.  The feeling I came away with was our son was intellectually slow and the program was something that any parent would want to hide from others.  Even he felt terrible about being called out of the classroom in front of his classmates to attend a ‘slow readers’ class.  Things have really changed!  There does not need to be ‘stigma’ attached to a child’s having difficulty with reading.  As a matter of fact, there are people trained to help your child and you with their reading ability.

Read to Your Child From Birth

Parents do need to begin reading to their children from birth.  The sound of your voice alone with the holding time is huge!  As they grow, they learn a love for words and books.  When you’re sitting with them and they want the same book over and over, it’s because it is familiar and they can point to the words and through memorization of a favorite book, think they can read like you.  What a great gift to show them that they really can learn to read words even when they are not in school yet.  Preschoolers need not wait for a school system to teach them to read.  Large class sizes alone hinder the chances for some children to learn.  Why ‘tie your children’s hands’ by not beginning at home…early? 

Praise is Better than Critcism 

Keep in mind all children are different and so is their learning levels.  Praise is more effective than criticism.  Yes, you are qualified to teach them yourself.  All you need is a little encouragement, some effective resources and direction from ‘people in the know’.  Next posting , I’ll be interviewing someone who is definitely ‘in the know’ about reading, problems with reading, and how to teach your child to read.  Parents and grandparents, you won’t want to miss this!  And while you’re waiting for the posting, go to this site for some exciting helps to teach your child to read. 

Remember that literacy is a gift.  Be a ‘gift giver’ to the most precious treasure in your home…your children!

Does your child struggle with reading?  What’s your take on teaching your child to read at home?  How early did you start teaching your child to read?  

Leave your comments for everyone!