When you ask someone to describe a child’s brain, the term used most often is sponge. Unlike all the other organs, which are usually developed by birth, children’s brains are still wiring themselves at a remarkable rate, soaking up their surroundings. Even babies love the visual stimuli of a picture book and the comforting sound of your voice as they absorb the new medium and develop their early language skills.
Later, for children between the ages of three to eight, you’ll want to consistently model reading and invite your children to engage in age-appropriate reading themselves. And the good news is that—despite how intimidating these high stakes of rapid development may seem—you are perfectly suited for the task. This is a match (quite literally) made in heaven.
Plan for Consistency
In a world of overstimulating entertainment for children, parent-child reading time should be a time of consistency, calm, and connectedness. Studies show a strong link between social skills (like cooperating with others) and literacy, both of which can be exercised during family reading time. And consistency of time, environment, boundaries, and methods are linked with better child brain development, likely because the sense of familial security will allow children to be more open to explore new things (without having their nervous systems stuck in fight or flight mode). Perhaps you spend the first ten minutes reading to them (modeling good reading), and then you spend ten minutes letting them read. (There’s no magic ratio—it’s whatever works for your family.) Soon, family reading time will be part of the familiar and comforting routine that your children will love. Just pick a time of day (like a part of the bedtime ritual) and stick with it.
Figure out Phonics
Abeka’s six easy steps to reading any word are described in “The Building Blocks for Reading,” an article which also describes the appropriate reading level for each child. Phonics helps relieve the burden of your children memorizing every word by shape and rather shows how to intuitively “sound out” each word. Familiarizing yourself with this simple time-honored phonetic approach will be an efficient use of your energy while preparing for family reading time. If you’d like to get a snapshot of beginner phonics training, feel free to check out the A-E-I-O-U video.
Set the Tone
Another important aspect of creating a safe, predictable space is that it should be a positive learning experience. If children are to view reading as a pleasant experience, they need praise for their wins. And let’s not downplay the power of positive physical touch as affirmation. First time sounding out a one-syllable word? Time for a fist bump. Navigated one of those 132 special sounds? You may be looking at a reward upgrade like the double high five. Playful positivity is a proven winner in early reading education.
Choose the Space
If possible, choose a place without much external stimuli (like the voices of strangers or traffic), to avoid distracting your child. You want to make reading time a period of calm focus, in a space with good lighting and comfortable seating, with a variety of age-appropriate books in easy reach (with plenty of color and rhyme and characters). Also, the lack of stimuli may help you when you’re trying to channel the squeaky little mouse voice that always makes your kiddos laugh. Relating a story to its fullest takes a good dose of concentration and imagination—so curating a quiet space does matter.
Normalize Learning
Unlike young children, you can read silently—and they may not even realize you’re doing it. You consume the restaurant menu, the billboard, the cereal box, and road signs so automatically that your children won’t even notice unless you point out the written words. Every time you stop to discuss the copy, you show your children how practical and important the written word is. Also, let them see you reading. If you look contented while reading a grownup book, your little sponges will want to do the same with their picture books. Kiddo see, kiddo do.
Embrace Discussion
Every family activity has the potential to transcend its initial purpose. The story that initially is used for encouraging reading growth can open opportunities to discuss the artwork or to ask questions. (Questions about morality and spirituality can be meaningfully discussed at this age as well.) You can also ask questions like “What do you think will happen next?” These moments of bonding through family discussion can point children toward the benefits of reading to learn.
Celebrate Good Books
If you live close to a library or bookstore, consider making a visit as a special monthly outing for your family. You’ll get to know more about the book styles that your children naturally gravitate toward. Also, many libraries offer story times, as well as reading programs and contests. With the right amount of research, you may find your library to be a helpful partner in your family’s reading journey.
Check out Abeka’s Collection
Got a vowel, consonant, or blend you’d like to hone? Abeka’s readers are written with certain skills in mind. For example, Poetry for You and Me is intended for parents modeling rhythm and rhyme for young children. Animal Friends helps bridge the learning gap between one- and two-vowel words. The many Abeka readers are linked to phonics charts and learning outcomes for specific grades—meaning you can always ask a representative for more information and get a curated list for what level would suit your children best. And the fun doesn’t stop at the end of the phonics charts! For middle schoolers, books like Trapped in a Hot Air Balloon by award-winning author Mark Wainwright are captivating their imaginations.
As you develop a reading plan for your family, you may at first find the task daunting. Just remember that while perhaps not described like “the sponges” that your children’s brains are, your brain is still marvelously plastic, with all the hardware present to develop new skills. You’ve got this. And may every time you open a book together be a pleasure.
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