|
|
|
Home::Advice
Giving Children the Gift of Reading and Writing
Author : Holly Jahangiri
Give the Gift of Reading
Before I had children, I assumed that if you read to your kids,
they would grow up to be avid readers. How wrong I was! There
are a number of things you can do to bestow the gift of reading
on the children in your life, but you may have to be downright
sneaky about it, sometimes.
1. Talk to children. Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? I was
stunned to learn, from the teachers at my son's daycare, that
many parents don't talk to their children - or certainly not as
much as I talked to my son. I've never understood why people had
kids if they didn't want to talk to them.
2. If you are a parent, grandparent, sibling, or babysitter of
an infant, put books in the crib. (Hardback books with sharp
corners are best reserved for toddlers; cloth-bound books,
squishy books, books with rounded corners are all fine.)
Familiarity breeds interest.
3. Read. While I'd encourage you to read aloud, it doesn't have
to be a children's storybook. Very young children are learning -
dare I say "absorbing" - language skills from their
surroundings. You set a good example by reading, yourself; you
expose children to new vocabulary by reading aloud, regardless
of what you read. My mom used to hold me in her lap and read her
college psychology textbook out loud. I was being read to; she
was getting her studying done. Talk about multitasking!
4. On index cards, write (using broad-tipped, colorful markers)
the names of common household objects: chair, table, television,
floor, ceiling, rug, sofa, etc. and tape these index cards to
the objects they represent. Point to them and say the words
aloud at every opportunity.
5. With older children, talk about different kinds of literature
and try to discern their interests. Not all kids enjoy reading
fairy tales, though it's assumed that they do, up to a certain
age. It just isn't true. And throw those gender-based
stereotypes right out the window. A little girl may like to read
about car racers and cowboys, and a little boy may like to read
about fairytale princesses being rescued from fire-breathing
dragons. It doesn't matter a bit, so long as they're reading.
Give the Gift of Writing
Children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, younger siblings, or
the kid next door might appreciate a customized storybook from
you!
It's easy to print out your stories and staple the pages
together to make a book. Consider adding some of the following
personal touches:
- A decorated cover made of heavy cardstock, using scrapbooking
embellishments, photographs, hand-drawn illustrations, and
colorful hand-written title.
- Space at the top of each chapter or each page in which you
encourage the young reader to become your "illustrator." If you
are giving this as a gift, consider including a box of crayons
or markers.
- Personalize the book by using the child's name for the
protagonist or charming side-kick (never the villain!)
If you are a poet, consider writing a special or silly poem for
each young member of the family. One Christmas, I wrote
limericks for each of my relatives and used them as stocking
stuffers. What a hit that was, as they read them and traded
them, and laughed over them!
For older children, a blank book or journal, given together with
a letter from their favorite writer (you!), some old family
photos, or a journal entry of your own, may be just the thing to
encourage them to take up a lifelong habit of writing.
Spam emails More free articles Related articles
|
More related feeds |
Mindfully celebrating birthdays and childhood
The ”goshdarn” reality is that I have to be there, practicing - living my life. I have to be parenting, not just reading and writing about parenting. I have to be homeschooling, not just reading and writing about homeschooling. ...Writing Contest - "Letter About Literature"
For complete rules and entry forms stop by the library and ask or go to http://www.loc.gov/letters Winners at the state level receive a $50 gift card for Target and will advance to National Level Judging. National level winners receive ... Hope Application Submitted Today!
Andrew completed and sent his application to HOPE COLLEGE. The tradition continues from grandparents to parents to child. As parents we are given the gift of children. Then as they make decisions, we celebrate their independence. Of Making Many Books...
Her book, The Light in the Refrigerator, is made up of poems kept hidden away in drawers until the last of her five children was old enough to move out. Ray Coppock began writing poetry after retiring from UC Davis, where he worked as a ... INTERVIEW | Jeanette W. Hill of Sight Ain’t Seeing Productions
We are still challenged with marriage problems, rebellious children, relationship dilemmas and health crises. I also use contemporary subjects. As to my writing style and its dramatic lilt, it’sa gift from God but if I had to choose an ... Scientology Christmas
I have put together this official Scientology Holiday Gift Guide so selfless Christians can help spread cheer and good tidings to their brothers who would otherwise spend the holiday reading novels about alien dinosaurs taking over the ... The Terror of Hell
Anyone who accepts the gift of salvation through YAHUSHUA Messiah after reading this Please share your joy with US! email me at revholyfire@hotmail.com. The Bible says CONFESS speak and not be ashamed of your decision to make YAHUSHUA ... Today's Brunch Includes Cake!
One small item mentions that she quit acting to focus on writing and has a “survival job” as a receptionist in New York city. Another item mentions that she once wrote a children’s book called THE WINTER BIRD. ... Letters from Temagami
We're just not serious somehow, except about reading or writing; I suppose we're like the dotty old bohemian auntie and uncle of times past. Our cousins don't, however, seem to think us a bit odd at all for having this Temagami ... The Publisher’s Post: Vol. I Ed. LII
“Children are more into internet surfing and television shows these days. Parents are eager to inculcate reading habit among kids. Personalised books are a unique way to pull your child towards books,” Manoj C Dalal, Vice President ...
|
|
|
|
