Reading to your child is not something you do just to help them fall asleep Reading to your child helps enhance their ability to learn through listening, repetition and visual stimulants. What better way to teach the importance of reading by showing them you read yourself? Reading to them has a positive effect on a child’s attitude toward reading and their ability to read. Help your child open up the world of reading, writing and imagination.

Why is reading important?

According to Kyla Boyse, RN: “A child’s reading skills are important to their success in school and work. In addition, reading can be a fun and imaginative activity for children, which opens doors to all kinds of new worlds for them.  Reading and writing are important ways we use language to communicate.”

Choosing the right book using these rules:

1. Pick a random page from a book.
2. If your child has problems reading more than 4 words on that page, that book might be too hard for them.
3. If your child doesn’t have any problems reading the book, then it is too easy and they need to pick a little more challenging book.

The book needs to have some challenging words, but not too many. The goal is to help the child comprehend and enjoy the book, while at the same time learn new words.

Tackle a new words:

1. Ask your child to sound out an unknown word.
2. Help them memorize irregular words.
   
3. Use suffixes, prefixes, and root words.

Support & Encourage:

Challenge your child to sound out new words, but always supply the word before the frustration sets in. After your child has read a story, reread it aloud yourself so that they can enjoy it without interruption. Help them understand the importance of reading.

Make reading a priority:

Set aside 10 minutes to an hour every day to read to your child or have them read to you. This will get them in a good habit of reading and helps them become interested in reading.

Creating the right atmosphere:

Don’t turn on the TV and distract the child. Help them find a quiet place to read. Be a good role model and read a book in front of your child while they are reading their book. That will help support the value of reading.

Make reading fun & reading aloud to your child:

Reading to your child is a simple and pleasant process. Read books beyond their reading level and build their vocabulary by exposing new words. Reading aloud is also a good way for you to model reading smoothly and with expression. Make sure you choose a new book every time you read to them. It can help keep them interested and explore their imagination. And not all reading has to be done with a book Toys and games can provide them with opportunities to learn new words and the achievement of getting a word right.

Any way you can provide a way to get your child to learn and enjoy reading will help them as they grow and develop communication skills.

He has really aged well, hasn’t he?!?! Eric Carle’s classic book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, is celebrating its 40th birthday today. The book is a much-loved children’s classic featuring a caterpillar that eats and eats, leaving holes in everything he munches on, until finally he grows large enough to become a butterfly.

The Very Hungry Google Logo

Even Google jumped on board with one of their famous logos! It features the caterpillar on top of various pieces of fruit, with the holes in the letters becoming the signature mark of what the caterpillar has eaten.

Eric Carle is a former art director who later became an author and illustrator. He has more than 40 books currently in print, including The Very Hungry Caterpillar, his most famous work.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Stuffed Animal

ABC Game

We carry a variety of Eric Carle toys, including several based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar book:

You may also wish to visit Eric Carle’s official website for more information about his life and work.