When reading with your preschool age child, we recommend keeping the acronym C.A.R.E in mind to remind you of th the best ways to interact with your child while reading.
Comment “Look at the dog eating his food.”
Ask Questions “How do you think she feels?”
Respond “Oh, yes, I think he looks hungry too.”
Extend Add words to what your child says. For example:
Child: “Hungry dog eat.”
Parent: “Yes, the hungry brown dog is eating and wagging his tail.”
In general, think of reading picture books as an interactive activity. If we simply read the text cover to cover, we miss some great opportunities to help our child develop language and literacy skills. When asking children about how characters feel or think (i.e. put yourself in the shoes of another), we are providing incredible opportunities to develop empathy and social emotional skills.
Reading should be an enjoyable, fun activity. If you are excited about reading, you are providing a great model for your child. Thinking of reading as something to look forward to, or an experience you love, will help your child become a lifelong avid reader.
If you have specific questions about literacy or language development, we would be happy to help. Schedule a free phone consultation or click the link below to complete a short questionnaire about your child.
