When I was small, I read lots of stories without much supervision or guidance. It was a fun way to read, but it wasn\u2019t the most effective. My mum was lovely but very busy, and she also lacked confidence in her storytelling abilities. I wish she had read more with me, so that I could have more memories now of the pleasure of that experience.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re also busy or lacking confidence, here are some simple tips I\u2019ve learned to make reading with your little ones more effective and engaging:<\/p>\n
1. Have a choice of books<\/strong> 2. Use a notebook<\/strong> 3. Focus your attention<\/strong>
\nStimulation can be essential to young learners, who might be intimidated by lots of dense text on a page. Pop-up books and picture books are both great options for early learners. Kids who are better at kinaesthetic and visual learning can get a lot out of these books through interaction and imagination. Once they\u2019re interested in the story, they\u2019ll become more engaged with the words. Comics can work the same way for older learners. The key to a productive reading session is pleasure, so make sure your kid can choose a book they enjoy.<\/p>\n
\nReading is definitely a great source of new vocabulary. Prepare a notebook and ask your kid to write down words they\u2019re not sure of as well as sample sentences from the book they\u2019re reading. Your kid can look these up and practise using them. Flip through the notebook from time to time to sustain the memory of the words you\u2019re learning.<\/p>\n
\nFor young learners, your attention and encouragement mean a lot. Not only do they enjoy reading, but also the quality time they\u2019re spending with you. You can create engagement with the story by changing your voice to match the feelings in it or by asking them questions such as, \u2018What do you think might happen next?\u2019 or, \u2018If you were there, what would you do?\u2019 These are great ways to get your child more involved in the story.<\/p>\n