Getting some children excited about cracking a book can be a challenge, but there are methods and activities that caregivers and educators can pair with reading that can help children to develop an interest in it.

Reading Aloud to Children

Marissa Rainey, early literacy strategist for Trying Together and lead organizer for Buzzword at the Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center, said it is important to read aloud for about 10 to 20 minutes to a child from birth to age 5.

“Show them how to hold a book, open it, and turn the pages,” Rainey said. “Emphasize phonemic awareness, which is the idea of learning letter sounds. Whenever you’re going through a book, stop to sound out any difficult words.”

Rainey said that caregivers can use alphabet flash cards to help early readers learn to sound out words. She added that caregivers should also provide background knowledge on topics, if possible, while reading to a child.

“If the book you’re reading is about farming, talk with them about the different animals – what sounds they make or where they live – to make the connection,” she said.

She also recommended taking part in interactive reading with children by asking such questions as what the child thinks will happen next in a story, what colors they see in the book, and what they have noticed about the characters.

To learn about methods and activities, how a change of scenery might help, and how to encourage independent reading, read the full article on Buzzword.