National Book Week 2016 is upon us – what better way to celebrate than to get your child involved by finding a good book to get hooked on? Reading allows a child to use their imagination and develop social, emotional, gross motor and fine motor skills that are important to their success in school and life.
ReachoutandRead.org states that, “Children who fall seriously behind in the growth of critical early reading skills have fewer opportunities to practice reading. Evidence suggests that these lost practice opportunities make it extremely difficult for children who remain poor readers during the first three years of elementary school to ever acquire average levels of reading fluency.”
So how do you get your child to love to read? Here are a few suggestions:
Limit Media Time
It’s easy to switch on the TV after a long day at work in order to quiet down your kiddos. However, best practices suggest to balance TV or media time with reading. Next time your child wants to watch their favorite TV show, suggest that they pick up a book instead or have to read for 30 minutes before being allowed to play their video games.
Share Reading Experiences
Reading together can be used to not only bond with your child, but is an important activity that allows you to discuss elements of a story with them. Once you have completed a book, open up a conversation discussing your favorite/least favorite part of the story, character development and common themes in the story. This allows a child to begin thinking critically about the context within a book.
Take a Trip to Your Local Library
Save some money and visit your local library! Many local libraries also have bilingual story times. For a full list of Austin libraries, click here.
Expand Your Definition of Reading
It can be challenging to get a child interested in reading books or novels in their spare time. Be open to other options that still encourage reading, such as comics, magazines, newspapers, etc. – it all counts as reading!
Be the Example
You are your child’s role model – if they see you reading books and magazines, they will learn to mimic and value that.
Celebrate National Book Week by visiting some local Austin libraries for storytime – check out some of these locations
Wednesday, January 20
Howson Branch Library – Story time for all ages 10:15 a.m.
Spicewood Springs Branch – Toddler Story Time 10:15 a.m.
Yarborough Branch Library – Books and Babies 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 21
Ruiz Branch Library – Spanish Storytime – Cuentos en espanol 10:15 a.m.
Hampton Branch at Oak Hill – Cuddle Up and Read 2 p.m.
Manchaca Road Branch – Pajama Storytime 6:30 p.m.
Friday, January 22
Faulk Central Library – All Ages Storytime 10:15 a.m.
Pleasant Hill Branch – Dual Language Storytime 10:15 a.m.
Need some book ideas for you children? Here is a list of the Success By 6 books that are included in the Play To Learn take home bags for the Spring 2016 semester:
Social/Emotional: 10 Little Fingers and 10 Little Toes
Gross Motor: Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes
Fine Motor: Mouse Paint
Language Development: Are You My Mother? /Where is the Green Sheep?
Social/Emotional: I Like It When
Geometry: Bear in a Square
Emerging Literacy: Curious George Visits the Library
Numeracy: The Very Hungry Caterpillar