It's cold outside...warm up to a good book!

The kids are home from school on a cozy snowy day. You don't have to go to work.  So put on the tea kettle, wrap up in a throw blanket and get lost in a good book…with your kids! 

According to Scholastic, reading with your child for 20 minutes a day can help build vocabulary, literacy skills, and listening comprehension as well as spark their imagination.  Reading together is a chance for your child to simply enjoy cuddling and the tone of your voice.  This time together can help your child associate reading with attention, love, and pretty pictures.  Besides, it’s good for you too!

Here are some suggestions for techniques that I use with my children:

·        Always read the title, author and illustrator of the book. 

·        Let them turn the pages by giving them a signal.  I say “beep.”

·        Occasionally, point to the words as you read.  This shows them that text goes from left to right and lets them see the words as they hear them. 

·        Ask questions that require more than a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.

·        Make predictions by asking, “What do you think happens next?”

·        Have fun with dialog (my favorite part of reading to my kids)!  Make up silly voices for the characters and make them come alive for your child. 

·        Re-read!!  If they ask, and they will, read it again. Repetition is a great tool for the early reader. 

Try these picture books for some fireside snuggling:  The Mitten and Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett, The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats, Owl Moon by Jane Yolan, and Snow Crazy by Tracy Gallup.  So, when the weather outside is frightful, reading together is so delightful!