How to make friends with a child with a book? Read together and discuss each book, even if it is for the little ones.
1. Read together.
Together with your child, get acquainted with a book, computer application, electronic or audiobook - any carrier of literary text. Scientists call such activities a joint play activity. A child should not spend too much time alone with a digital device. You should definitely play and read together every day.
How to start a conversation: Should we read together? Show me how you can cook something with this app.
2. Ask as many questions as possible.
Questions are the basis of interactive reading, and you can ask them even to a child who has not yet learned to speak. Remember to ask your child questions before, during, and after reading.
How to start a conversation: Where did the rabbit go? What color is this flower?
3. Discuss the details of the book.
Show the illustrations that you like the most, name the colors, animals, people and feelings of the characters presented on each page. At first, your child will not be able to join you, but as they grow up, they will learn from you to turn reading into an interactive process.
How to start chatting: This car is red. Do you see anything else red? Do you want to count the animals?
4. Play the story in faces.
Simulate the sounds of sweeping by seeing a broom in the picture, or pretend to eat the drawn food. This will help your child establish a connection between concepts and words, which is the cornerstone of interactive reading.
How to start communication: Then the caterpillar ate one ... And then she saw someone - who?
6. Praise your child while reading.
Encourage his simplest responses, hug when you're done reading, and praise him for choosing a good book or computer application.
How to start a conversation: I am so pleased that you have chosen this book. How great are you on the iPad!
7. Share your opinions about the book.
If your child liked the story, ask why. If he fidgets while reading an e-book, ask the reason. All this will make your reading together more fun.
How to start a conversation: Did you enjoy reading this book? Why do you want us to read it again?
8. Read to your child about the things he loves.
If your kid liked the story about the panda, ask the library for more books about this animal. Read your child's favorite books, use computer applications, videos and Internet resources to help your child learn more about the subject that interests him.
How to start a conversation: Do you want to read something else about the panda bear? Let's ask the librarian to give us panda books.
9. Stop reading to discuss what you have read.
Adults are constantly in a hurry to get to the end of the book or appendix in order to end this matter as soon as possible, but it is absolutely necessary to stop for a discussion so that the child understands what he has read well and comprehensively.
How to start communication: Do you want to pause and take a good look at this mountain? Maybe we should stop and talk about what happened in the book?
10. Make guesses about the further development of the plot.
Questions like these make your child feel like you are telling a story and deepen their reading comprehension. Children's books are ideal material for this, as they feature simple plots with funny twists. Questions of this kind can be the beginning of a detailed discussion, and the habit of asking them persists for life. I still amuse myself with this game when I watch movies.
How to start a conversation: Who do you think will win the races? What do you think is hidden in the box?
11. Maintain a dialogue.
When you finish reading or listening to the book attachment, continue to discuss the story. Look for parallels in real life and keep asking questions.
How to start a conversation: What if we now look at pictures of porcupines? Do you remember what an accordion is?
12. Expand the boundaries of your child's knowledge.
Scientists call this technique "developmental learning", and to use it, sometimes it is enough just to read to the child. After all, he himself does not know how to read yet! Choose books on topics that are new to your baby as often as possible.
How to start a conversation: Do you know why this car won't start? Do you want me to tell you how [the heroine] made the soup?
13. Show your child the world outside of their immediate environment.
For me, who grew up in rural Michigan, it became a vital necessity. Before I saw with my own eyes France, New York, Guatemala or the Pacific Ocean, all these wonders were revealed to me in the pages of books. Remember to choose books to read about a wide variety of places, cultures, and events, and if your child particularly enjoys something, support and deepen his interest.
How to start communication: Do you want to know what Antarctica is? Show you on a map where France is?
14. Match the story with a real-life experience.
Help your child draw an analogy between the events in the book and the things that are most interesting to him in real life. This is how people gain an understanding of the world in which they live. Being able to relate the content of a book or computer application to reality is critical.
How to start communication: Have you seen this animal at the zoo? Were you terribly upset too when we left the park?
15. Encourage your child to retell favorite stories.
I love when Olive tells me her favorite books at breakfast. There is no better way to amplify the impact of the reading and develop your toddler's storytelling skills!
How to start a conversation: Can you read this book to your little bear? What happened when Baby Elephant dropped his ice cream?
The Born to Read Principle applies to both printed and e-books.
