Calgary Reads Tips for Parents/Guardians: The importance of reading aloud

Reading aloud is more than a fun way to pass family time. It will further your child’s literacy growth.

The benefits of reading aloud include:

• It enhances a love of reading.
• It expands your child’s imagination.
• It strengthens listening and comprehension skills.
• It develops reading skills.
• It helps your child acquire vocabulary, background knowledge and an understanding of sentence patterns.
• It gives your child an opportunity to bond with you through the shared enjoyment of reading a good book together.
• Children learn about the world that opens up to them through reading.

How to Read Aloud to Your Child:

• Choose a book that you and your child will enjoy together. You’ll find that your child often wants to make the choice.
• Pick books with topics that interest your child: fantasy, fairytales, sports, poems, magazines, information/non-fiction
• It is a good idea to start with books that have predictable language patterns. Your child can pick these patterns up and repeat them easily.
• Read for a short time, but make it daily. Make it a habit.
• Hold the book so that you both can see the print.
• Before you start, share the title, look at the book cover, and wonder together about what the book will be about.
• Point to each word, or slide your finger under the text as you read.
• Spend lots of time talking about the book with your child. Encourage your child to do lots of talking about the book.
• Read and reread your child’s favorite books.

Relax and enjoy your read aloud time together.

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