Page 37 - Waterfall_Issue 6_2022

Reading TO Children
Jim Trelease, author of the best-seller, The Read-Aloud
Handbook, explains that “every time we read to a child,
we’re sending a ‘pleasure’ message to the child’s brain.
You could even call it a commercial, conditioning 2. Ensure access to books
the child to associate books and print with pleasure,” Children who have easy access to engaging articles
(ReadAloud.org). Developing a connection between do more reading. The children who have many
‘pleasure’ and reading is crucial. Learning is the minimum reading materials at home and at school did more
requirement for success in every field of life. leisure reading and were more engaged readers
than those who had challenges in accessing books.
Five ways to help your child Parents who may not be able to buy books for
develop a Love for Reading their child could take the child to a public library to

borrow books. Another option could be downloading
suitable free e-books for the child to read.
1. Read aloud (and make it exciting!)
Reading aloud fosters a love of books in children,
and helps children get hooked on books, as they 3. Create a space for reading
associate reading with pleasure. However, some It is important to establish a comfortable space and
children pointed out that how books are read conducive atmosphere as well as set aside time for
aloud could affect their enjoyment of reading. leisure reading. The reading engagement of children is
It is important that the reading be done in an affected by environmental factors such as noise, heat,
enthusiastic way that children find engaging. disruptions, and uncomfortable seats. Children are likely
to read happily and for a longer time when they are in a
comfortable and quiet space – this could be as simple as a
corner in a room, which could be decorated accordingly.

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