A LITTLE
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FROM THE START
Step one is to introduce books into your child’s routine. Stock up on age-appropriate reading material and work some time into your day that is reserved for story time. Read to younger children for a few minutes,
Reading is one of the most rewarding skills you can impart to your children; start sharing the reading experience with them from their baby days to bring up your very own bookworm
each day at different times – as their attention span is short – increasing that time as they grow older.
M
any parents are inclined to leave the challenge of teaching their kids to read for school teachers to tackle, but studies have shown that the foundation for literacy is laid at home. Children who are read to by a parent at least three times a week are nearly twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading abilities compared with those children who are read to less than three times a week. Failing to get your child involved in the process of reading is doing him a great disservice, especially since all it
requires is giving a little bit of time, a pinch of patience and your own, genuine enthusiasm towards books – after a few turns of the page, you’ll be on your way to raising an inquisitive, confident, literate child!
BOOKS GALORE!
YOUNG BABIES ENJOY BOOKS WITH BOLD BLACK AND WHITE IMAGES
Practise what you preach by investing in a book collection of your own and demand that it be respected. That means no scribbling, no tearing and no grubby fingers allowed! You need to really reinforce the idea that books are something special and should be treasured. Encourage your kids to look after their books. Who knows? You could have a lovingly pawed-over heirloom in the making.
142 | OCTOBER 2012
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of at home with Jo Frost - October 2012