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Help Your Child Read
Read aloud to your child/ Read to your child every day!
You can read the morning news at breakfast, share a story after supper, or cuddle up for a book at bedtime. A daily reading routine is something everyone can look forward to.
Reading Aloud with Children of All Ages
Read Aloud Every Day-Encouragement and motivation to read to children every day
READ ALOUD VIDEOS by Reading Is Fundamental
Reading Passages by Reading Is Fundamental
READ OUT-LOUD LIST:
Books about Friendship-Our list of friend books created for Kids’ Book Fest 2013
Numbers and Counting Books- Read about numbers and how they work together!
Books about Animals-Read books about your favorite animal or learn about a new creature.
Talk and build vocabulary
Interesting conversations build vocabulary, language skills, and knowledge about the world. Talk is a child’s best source of exposure to new words and ideas.
Hablen, lean y canten juntos todos los días
Tips for Using Language at Home and in the Community
The Benefits of Being Bilingual
Model reading
Kids want to do what the grownups do. Make sure your kids get to see you reading and hear you talk about it. Even if your child is fascinated with books from an early age, their fascination will quickly dwindle if they do not see reading modeled at home. If you are not an avid reader yourself, make a conscious effort to let your children see you reading for at least a few minutes each day! Read a magazine, a cookbook, a novel, your Bible…it’s up to you! But show your child that reading is something that even adults need to do.
Point out print/identify letters in natural settings
Read and talk about the words you see in the world around you. There’s lots to read—signs, recipes, cereal boxes, instruction manuals, bus schedules, news, maps, and menus.
Visit the library
Take advantage of all the books, materials, story times, programs, and resources your local library has to offer.
St. Lucie County Public Library System Locations and Hours
Create a reading-rich home
Find books at the bookstore or yard sales. Provide a special shelf or basket for kids to keep their own books and one for library books. Make sure there are quiet, comfortable places to read.
Encourage your child’s reading
Praise the efforts of a soon-to-be or beginning reader. Make sure schedules of older readers include time for reading for pleasure.
Keep books handy
Stash books in your bag to read aloud when you travel or have to wait at restaurants or for appointments. Or keep eBooks on your phone.
Children’s Books (PDF):
Baby’s Busy Day: Being One is So Much Fun! [English] [Spanish]
Where is Bear? A Terrific Tale for 2-Year-Olds [English] [Spanish]
Amazing Me: It’s Busy Being 3! [English] [Spanish] [Coloring sheets]
Start reading traditions
Beyond bedtime stories, consider a special birthday book, holiday favorites, or a regular family read aloud night.
Creating a culture of literacy checklists: [Checklist for Home] [Checklist for Communities]
Everyday Learning-Turn everyday moments into learning opportunities for your child.
Let kids choose books
Offer titles that explore your child’s interests, expand horizons, and offer exposure to different kinds of writing. Show them there are books where they can see themselves and books where they can see the worlds of others.
Make everyone comfortable
Find a spot to read together where you are both comfortable. Sometimes kids have to move around to be comfortable.
Be an active reader
Use expressive voices for characters, make sound effects, and point things out in the text and illustrations when you read aloud.
Discuss what you read
Give your child enough time to absorb the story and look at the pictures as you read. Think aloud about what you are reading and looking at and encourage your child to do the same.
Ask questions when you read
Ask your child to guess what comes next. Ask open-ended questions that help them relate to characters or events in the book. Let your child get involved and ask questions too–interruptions are okay! Asking questions while reading to your child is not only great for encouraging your child to interact with the book, but it is also extremely effective in developing his ability to comprehend what he is reading.
Encourage re-reading
Repetition helps kids learn. Re-reading favorite books and poems helps kids make meaningful connections between themselves and books.
Connect reading and writing
Write your own reading material, like a story about your life, a story featuring your kids, or a story kids make up.
Make media matter
Connect kids with appropriate technology—videos, apps, or games that help them learn new words and interesting things about the world.
Get help
If you have concerns about your child’s language development, hearing, or vision, see your child’s pediatrician as soon as possible.
How to Talk with the Doctor Tip Sheet [English] [Spanish] [Haitian Creole]
Developmental Milestones [English] [Spanish]
Developmental Screening Passport (Birth-5 years old) [English] [Spanish]
Learn to Read of St Lucie County -Their Mission is to improve lives through literacy for any person 16 years or older through free, confidential instruction in reading, writing and speaking English, and the technological skills needed to solve problems encountered in daily life
Make reading an experience
Link life experiences with books, like a trip to the zoo and books about animals, or planting a garden and reading The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin.
Have fun
Your idea of fun may differ from your child’s, so appreciate your child’s special joy for learning new things. Try different approaches, such as having them read to you or acting out a favorite story. Even something as simple as a story time outside can make reading together livelier and more memorable for you and your child.
Screen Time Tips-Learn why to put limits on your child’s screen time and read aloud instead.