Reading Bedtime Stories to Encourage Reading
Having a love of reading is important for any child’s education. Dr. Rose Windale states studies have shown that children that were read bedtime stories “…regularly have better IQ, are more imaginative and have better listening skills” than those who’s parents did not read to them at bed. http://www.healthzine.org/Sleep-disorder/bedtime-stories
Start when your children are very young. Choose stories for kids that you know they would love. Read slowly and carefully and show them the pictures. Make a nightly ritual of this when they are young and they will want you to continue as they grow older.
As your children age, choose more difficult books to read. Occasionally ask younger children to read individual words back to you. Pick words that they know and understand based on their educational level. This will help to make them feel intelligent and to encourage them read more.
Gradually ask your children to read more words as they progress in their education. Get them to read three or four words in a row or even entire sentences and paragraphs. However, avoid making them read more of the book than you. They should feel involved in the reading but not as if they are the main readers.
Eventually encourage them to read more of the stories for kids. Eventually they should be reading pages. Continue progressing until they are able to read an entire simple book on their own. Choose more difficult books as they progress.
Your nightly ritual of reading stories for kids will have progressed into their own nightly ritual. Continue to read them bedtime stories as long as they are interested. It is an excellent way for you two to interact.
Stop reading to your child if they want to read for themselves. Smile, as you have nurtured a lifelong love of reading.
