Read to Pre-School Children

     As your children turn 3-5 your reading can become more interactive.  This means that if you or your child feels a need to stop and talk or ask questions, then stop and talk about the book.  Make sure your child is actively involved in the reading experience.
     This is a time when you can begin to teach concepts of print.  Point to the words on the page.  Teach your child that there are words and spaces.  Show them where you begin to read on the page.  Track your finger along the words.  Show them a period.  Show them that when you get to the end of a page you need to turn the page and find the new words to continue on with the story.
     When you read aloud at this age your child will develop new oral language skills.  This includes recognizing rhyming words, understanding and developing vocabulary, using words in context, and recognizing the alphabet in words.
     At this age parents can best involve their children by talking about the book together.  Ask questions, make predictions, talk about the pictures and define words together.  All this works together to broaden your child's oral language and comprehension of stories.
     As you read these stories expand them with literacy-related play, drama, singing, and art activities.  Literacy can enrich your life as well as the lives of your children.  Read about a gingerbread man, and then make a gingerbread man.  Read about winter and make a winter diorama, a snowman, or go play in the snow.  Read about a glacier floating in the ocean, and float an ice cube in a glass of water.
     The world is open to you.  Use your imagination.  The sky is the limit!