Page 12 - Buletin Jun 2012

HAVE YOU READ WITH YOUR CHILD TODAY?

Just 20 minutes a day reading aloud with young chil- Once a child begins to read, it is essential to continue
dren strengthens relationships, encourages listening reading aloud together. Like other skills, reading is
and language skills, promotes attention and curiosity, mastered over time, with lots of practice, and with
and establishes a strong reading foundation. These the help of another person. There is practically no
skills are essential for success in school and in life. way to do it wrong, but there are ways to do it better.
It takes hundreds of hours of “lap time” for a child We are here to help you. The routine of sharing
to acquire the pre-literacy skills necessary for learning books together creates lifelong readers.
to read early and well. From birth to age five, the
pleasant activity of listening to and talking The magic of this process is the simplicity of action.
about stories trains a child's brain, ears, and eyes Any adult can do it, in just about any place, with lit-
for eventual success in learning to read. tle or no expense. It doesn't matter what language is
spoken. Non-reading parents can make up stories to
“The early years set the stage for later learning…the go with the illustrations. The essential elements are
single most important activity for building the scheduled time with books and a positive attitude!
knowledge required for eventual success in reading is Make reading together the most important - and hap-
reading aloud to children.” piest - 20 minutes of your day!

20 Minutes A Day Let them hear their first tales,
In the sound of your voice.
Read to your children Read in the morning,
Twenty minutes a day; Read over noon,
You have the time, Read by the light of
And so do they. Goodnight Moon.
Turn the pages together,
Read while the laundry is in the machine; Sitting close as you'll fit,
Read while dinner cooks; 'Till a small voice beside you says,
Tuck a child in the crook of your arm “Hey, don't quit.”
And reach for the library books.
Hide the remote, Author Unknown
Let the computer games cool, "Have you read with a child today?" The Children's Read-
For one day your child will be off to school; ing Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. <http://
www.readingfoundation.org>.
Remedial? Gifted? You have the choice.