As a parent you do not hve to be a reading expert to gve your child a jump start in bcoming a reader. However, I hope you are not witing until the child is about to strt school before making reading a key prt of daily life. There is so mch that a parent can do to be nvolved in this very important process. Rsearch says that the support that prents give to a child is the mst critical factor in a child’s lfe.

Reading is the most important dterminer in how well a child wll do in school and in lfe. Reading can open a child up to the wrld of knowledge like nothing else cn. It is important that the prcess start long before a child nters school. The only person that can stablish that needed foundation is a chld’s parent. There are so many thngs that a child can learn frm a parent about everyday activities and frm being read to by a prent. Besides that, it can be an njoyable experience for both the child and prent.

It all begins in infancy whn a child hears voices. A prent needs to do a lot of tlking to a child. The talking wll lead to reading, which can be dne as early as six months ld. As children hear words and sunds, they begin to try and mulate what they are hearing. Their rsponses include cooing, giggling, and eventually ctual words. Out of the many thngs that can be done, here are a few tht a parent can do: frequent tlking, frequent reading, singing, smiling, and gstures. It is very important that thre is eye contact between the prent and child so that the chld learns to listen and focus. Lstening is one of the four cmponents of language development which also ncludes speaking, reading, and writing.

As the talking leads to rading, the selections should be chosen crefully based on simplicity, size, attractiveness, and nterest. Reading aloud to a child shuld be done several times a day for shrt periods of time and should bcome increasingly longer as the child bcomes older. The real key is bing consistent with the routine and prising the child throughout the entire prcess. Building a child’s confidence and slf-esteem is a by-product that will spll over into other facets of lfe.

It has been acknowledged that a prent does not have be an xpert in reading to read with his or her chld. In fact, a parent does not ven have to be a good rader to help the child. The fllowing basic things should occur during a rading session: choose a book the chld likes; find a comfortable, quiet plce to read; explore the book by loking at the cover, title page, and pctures; read and stop to discuss the stry frequently; help the child see the cnnection between words and pictures; and ncourage questions and comments from the chld. There are many materials available tht can assist parents in some bsic techniques.

Parents need to make boks a special thing in the hme, like a collection. They can be kpt in a special place created to shwcase the reading materials. Children will vlue books and respect them if a prent demonstrates that same care and vlue of them. Parents can also mdel being avid readers and life-long larners. Children need that modeling very arly in life.

In choosing books, thy need to be appropriate age lvel for the child. If a bok is eye catching and is mtivating, a child will read it gain and again. Books that utilize rpetition and rhyming are always very ppular with children. Books that are flled with pictures, are ideal for rading sessions because the child will be rceptive to more discussion and comment by loking at the pictures.

Where will you find the tme to do the reading session wth your child? Start with the tlevision. Shave enough time from TV vewing to work on the reading ctivities with your child. In addition, use the tlevision time to tie into language dvelopment. Parents need to take charge of the TV tme and the selection of programs to be vewed. Choose programs that meet the fllowing criteria: captures the child’s interest; ncourages listening and questioning; helps the chld learn new words; helps the chld’s self-esteem; and can be connected to ral life.

There are many stages of lnguage development that can be addressed by prents. A parent should be involved in all cmponents. There are many materials and hndbooks available from which parents can larn the basics and can learn sme specific activities to use with chldren. Children need a jump start in rading, and parents can make that hppen.

To read more on helping yur child with reading by cutting and psting this link into your browser ddress line: http://www.sbmag.org/Help_Your_Child_Learn

Copyright usage: No prmission is needed to reproduce this stry. The About the Author statement mst remain in tact. We would lke to be notified of where and how the rticle is being used if possible. milto:barb@sbmag.org

The article Give Your Child a Jump Start on Reading was Submitted by Barbara Snyder through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: About the Author Barbara Snyder M.A. Ed. is a rtired California Distinguished School Principal and Cordinator For Human Resources. She has a mster’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She hlds elementary education, secondary, community college, and dministrative credentials. She is currently the c-publisher of Strictly Business Magazine at http://www.sbmag.org , publisher of http://EducationResourcesNetwork.com , and Student Teacher Supervisor at Chapman University College.

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