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BUILD A READING FOUNDATION
By: Dr. Bhumi
Upadhyay, Northeast Pediatrics
Did you know that setting a life long
habit of reading can start at infancy? It is never too early to
read to your child!! A strong foundation in reading can lead to a
life long love of reading. Here are some suggestions to develop
this foundation.
Even the infant and toddler enjoy the
voice of the parent reading a story. In the early stages, the
infant and toddler focus mainly on the pictures, but they learn
the basic like holding a book, turning the pages. Make sure to
spend only a small amount of time reading due to short attention
spans. However, plan special time every day to read. Set a
bedtime ritual, which includes cuddling, and reading with your
child. This will allow your child to associate reading time with
comfort. While reading, make sure to point to the words you are
reading. Take your child to story time at the library. For the
infants, chose books with animals, colors, and faces so the child
can learn to identify simple objects. Read nursery rhymes and
books with a lot of repetition for the toddler.
As your child enters the preschool
years, make sure you have books in every room in the house and
car. The child now is aware of the word and may even pretend to
read books. Remember, they still have short attention spans and
you may need to have you child join in the reading by finishing
off familiar rhymes and sayings or asking open ended questions
about the simple story.
For your soon to be a readers, help
them recognize all the letters and sounds by playing lots of games
with letters like “I spy an object starting with” or finding
letters on signs outside. Give your child plenty of paper and
crayon to draw and write. Stronger readers develop from stronger
writers. Make an alphabet book by cutting out pictures from
magazines for each letter and writing each letter.
For your beginner readers, make sure
to read out loud together by alternating pages. Make sure the
reading time is enjoyable. If your child cannot sound out a word,
skip it and finish the sentence. Then ask your child if he can
figure out what word is missing. Have your child get his own
library card and get plenty of books! Also start your own
library-by getting the child a bookshelf. Read books with a
simple plot with higher vocabulary. Let your child read the
easy-to-read books alone. Start sharing different types of
books-nonfiction, poems.
For the developing reader, continue to
have bedtime stories where you still read out loud. While your
child is reading, help him catch and correct his mistakes and talk
about the stories you read together. Also talk about the stories
that your child may have read on his own.
Reading continues to develop through
the elementary years and you can continue to follow your child’s
progress by reading aloud EVERY DAY! Here are a few nurturing
tips: read daily, have plenty of reading material in the house
(own books and use the library), notice your child’s interests and
respect his choices on book topics, praise your child’s efforts
and accomplishments, give your child his own bookshelf and home
library, be a reading role model to your child, tell stories to
expand the imagination and encourage writing. Remember, READ,
READ, READ, and it is never too early!!!
Dr. Bhumi
Upadhyay, a Board Certified Pediatrician and active member of the
American Academy of Pediatrics, graduated from the University of
Miami six year Honors Program in Medicine. If you have questions
about this article or your child email Dr. Bhumi at
drbhumi@northeastkids.com. We are accepting new patients
please call to get to know the doctor 526-PEDS
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