Reasons Why Parents Should Read Aloud with Children Essay

One of the greatest gifts that a parent can bestow upon a child is the gift of literacy. Reading is a wonderful pastime, and the key to unlocking many academic puzzles. Parents should read aloud to children as part of a regular routine, one that can be thoroughly enjoyed by both parties. Firstly, reading aloud to children poses the benefit of being quality time spent together. Parents need to have special time with their children, and reading to them is a great method for achieving this goal. Instead of plunking the children down in front of the television, sit them down on your lap and open up a book. As you begin to read to your children, marvel at their attention to detail, and use every opportunity to test their memory and knowledge. While reading, stop frequently and relate the story to an aspect of their everyday life. This will help them to see the correlation between themselves and their environment. While you are enjoying the quality time with your children as you read aloud, you will also be fostering a love of reading that transcends boundaries. Learning to love books at a young age will enhance the children’s desire to be an avid reader as they mature. A love of literature can take a child to unfathomable heights, allowing them to soar to faraway lands of make believe. Children that are read aloud to may use their creativity and imagination more often, building their different levels of intelligence. Being read aloud too can help them see the world, giving them an idea of their place in the world. Another great reason why parents should read aloud to children is to enhance their vocabulary skills. The parent should ensure that they read every word in a story verbatim, never glossing over words that they deem difficult. Children need to hear new words, and need to be explained to their meaning. This will boost their communicative skills. A child with a mastery of vocabulary will be able to orate and have himself or herself heard with a greater degree of efficiency than a counterpart saddled with a limited grasp of the language. When a parent reads aloud to their children, they are also teaching their children to read. As the pages turn, the children are intently watching, following every word on the page, learning that the words go from left to right and flow in a certain fashion. They will, through spoken osmosis, learn how to read on their own. The longer this continues, and with a great deal of frequency, the more proficient of a reader they will become. Parents also should read aloud to their children so that are heard enjoying the books, and the children. This bond will unite them, and the stories will also help them to learn things of importance. Books should be selected together, during regular visits to the local library or book store. This will give the child a sense of autonomy and ownership over the story, which may hold their attention for a longer period. Parents can help steer the children towards books that have strong morals, ethics, focus on manners and friendships, and interesting characters. Once the children begin to learn how to read, the roles can be reversed, and the children can become the readers while the parents become the attentive audience. This may give the children a jolt of confidence and self-esteem that will serve them well as they continue through the educational system. The only thing better than a good book is sharing it with a loved one. Nine Benefits for Parents Who Read Aloud Reading Aloud: 1. Creates bonding experience 2. Allows you to observe and share in your child’s interests. 3. Demonstrates your commitments to your child. 4. Provides an opportunity to model and transmit values. 5. Develops good communication skills. 6. Provide bibliotherapy* opportunities. 7. Gives children a chance to ask you questions. 8. Combats a passive, couch-potato, TV-viewing lifestyle. 9. Helps you build a storehouse of pleasant memories with your children. *Using stories and books to help Children deal with traumatic events such as death, divorce, loss of a pet, and adjusting to life-changing situations such as moving and entering school. Sources: Paticia A. Habada, Ph. D. Senior Editor of the SDA Life Series Reading textbooks Health and Home, Volume 38 Pages 45-47 Bobby Coles http://www.helium.com