When my two children were growing up, we had a ritual. every night, even if he was exhausted from a long day at work, he would read to them before going to bed. His favorite book was Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. sometimes they would be very quiet listeners; other times, they jumped up and down like wild things themselves. either way, we were building the habit of reading, together.
We talked about what the characters were doing in the book, had conversations that built vocabulary, helped my kids think about what they were reading, and gave them the confidence to ask and answer questions.
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During the first year of the pandemic, 69% of parents read aloud to their children, according to US data. census. But even though schools closed and learning disruptions from covid-19 could set back children’s literacy by up to four months, that number was only a 5 percentage point increase from the year before, before schools closed. schools. With data like this, and with less than 20 percent of teens engaging in reading for pleasure, it’s vitally important that all parents make sure their kids see the importance of reading every day.
Fortunately, cultivating a culture of reading aloud to children is easier than ever, with greater accessibility to digital and print resources. Although the demands on parents have never been greater, especially in traditionally low-income families where they may have to work multiple jobs, reading at home can be done using devices that almost all of us already have at hand, our phones, at no expense significant additional financial investment.
Children ages 8 to 10 spend an average of six hours a day in front of computer or smartphone screens, so screen time on a device that already contains an e-reader can easily turn into an opportunity to learn and read. My organization, WorldReader, has helped more than 19 million children and young people around the world improve their educational outcomes and lives through access to digital books in free, easy-to-use apps. From the Bronx in New York City to the Texas-Mexico border, we partner with community organizations to distribute our BookSmart app, a digital library of hundreds of bilingual books combined with short, easy-to-follow directions for family engagement.
Other apps, like Homer and Reading Eggs, offer similar services to make reading aloud a normal part of a child’s day. imagine you are waiting at the laundromat or on a bus. Instead of filling that time by letting your kids play on a phone or tablet, you can grab a book, take five minutes to read a story out loud, and then spend a few more minutes talking about the story. This not only increases engagement with your children, but normalizes reading as an everyday activity. in fact, a study published in the review of educational research found that e-books with accompanying questions or activities dramatically improve children’s reading comprehension.
Beyond increased literacy and confidence, reading aloud to children plays an important role in enhancing social skill development. Research shows that social-emotional learning has a wide range of benefits, including self-awareness and relationship skills; Reading aloud helps children think about the characters, process their feelings about them, and reflect on the situations the character faces. Parents can guide sometimes difficult conversations by being strategic about which books they choose to read and incorporating activities to further engage their children.
See Also: 8 best audiobook apps you can use on your Android phone or tablet
Children whose caregivers read to them at least five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than children who were never read to.
Parents and caregivers have the power to share the gift of literacy and ensure that all children have the confidence and ability to read.
kristen walter is director of u.s. programs on worldreader.
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