Reading aloud to your child can be a rewarding experience or an exercise in frustration. Here are some ways to help ensure an enjoyable experience for both of you.

Difficulty Level: easy      Time Required: 20 minutes

1. You don't have to wait for your baby to get to a certain age to begin reading to him. Start now!
2. Continue reading aloud to your child until he is at least 10 years old. Children continue to benefit from listening to others read long after they themselves have learned to read.
3. For young children, books with rhyme, rhythm, and repetition are excellent. Be sure to read Mother Goose rhymes often.
4. Be consistent about reading aloud to your child. Do it daily and, if possible, about the same time. Reading right before bedtime often works well.
5. If you have several small children, you can read to them together. Picture books work well for this.
6. Don't be surprised if your children want to hear a favorite book again and again. That's fine. As they get to really know the story well, have them fill in words for you.
7. Try to choose books that are above your child's reading level but at the child's interest level.
8. Some children love reading about the same characters. If that's what your child likes, choose several short books in a series or a longer novel. Reading a chapter a night works well.
9. Vary the subject matter of what you read as well as the type. In addition to fiction, you might also read poetry, magazine articles, and non-fiction.
10. Try to find books that match your child's interests. Get suggestions from the children's librarian at your school or public library. Check with a bookseller at your favorite bookstore.
11. If your children are several years apart, as they get older you will need to read to them individually to ensure that each book you choose is at the appropriate reading and interest level for each of your children.
12. As your child gets older and gains in reading ability, occasionally pick a book right at his reading level and take turns reading to one another.

1. When reading a chapter of a book each night, always review what happened in the previous night's chapter before starting a new chapter.
2. When you begin reading aloud to a baby, you will only be able to keep your baby's attention for a few minutes. That's to be expected.
3. As children mature, so do their attention spans.
   

Related Features:

• Picture Books
• Classics
• Read Alouds
• Chapter Books
• Culture and Tradition