Adapted from the Between the Lions Workshop
- Model reading habits for your children. Visit the local library and check out books for yourself as well as your child. If they see you read for fun, they’ll start to follow your example.
- Don’t be afraid to ham it up when reading. Use different voices for characters.
- Slow down! Give children time to savor the story you are reading.
- Point to the words as you read them and comment on the pictures. This way you’re not just reading to your child but with them.
- Stop from time to time and talk about what’s happening.
- Encourage your child to ask questions about characters, pictures, and words.
- Invite your child to help you read the words on a page, especially phrases that are repeated several times. Point out how some little words such as in, at, to, and the – show up again and again.
- Look for words that have things in common. For example, find words that rhyme or start with the same letter. Find little words hiding inside big words like the am in family.
- Write a story of your own! Use resources from WQED’s Writers Contest to create your own story.
If you aren’t comfortable reading aloud
- Try to remember your early memories of reading with your family. What made that time special? Cuddling together, speaking quiet time together? If you didn’t have that experience, how can you make that a part of your child’s life?
- Try visiting story times at your local library and see how librarians read or check out some of these read alouds from WQED and PBS:
- WQED Education Story Read Alouds
- Read-Along with PBS KIDS!
- Reading Rainbow Stories
- Storyline Online (SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Emmy® Award-winning children’s literacy program)
- Practice on your own before reading to your child
- It’s okay to make up your own story using the pictures
What are some obstacles to reading aloud?
Busy schedules, lack of access to books or language barriers? Get the family involved and brainstorm together ideas about how to solve these problems!