For Parents

Ways to Read to Children!

What to do before, during, and after reading a book to your child.

To Do BEFORE you read a book:

• Read the title, author, and illustrator's name
• Introduce and teach vocabulary words that may be hard for them

To Do DURING reading a book:

• Make predictions
• Ask questions
• Answer children's questions
• Read with enthusiasm
• Use different voices

To Do AFTER reading a book:

• Use sentence completion opportunities
• Do activities related to the book
  • retell the story
  • draw a picture
  • do a craft

Help Children Build Strong Language Skills!

Tips to work with your child to build a strong vocabulary and other language skills.

• Listen as much as you talk
• Talk about things your child is already interested in
• Make a conversation longer by adding new information or asking a follow-up question
• Make a point of introducing your children to other adults, or children, telling them another their names
• Use meal time o ask about the day's events
• Use drive time, turn off the radio
• Reread familiar stories, and talk about the book
• Follow the child's lead, and encourage a train of thought they already have
• Comment on what your child is doing
  • ex. "Oh wow, you made a big house out of these blocks!"
• Ask a variety of questions in a conversation
  • Who, What, Where, Why, What do you think?