A Few More Tips

Here are a few more ways to read with your child.
1. Invite a "guest reader" to read to your child. You don't have to be the only one to read to and with your child. Encourage siblings to read to each other. Ask friends and neighbors, or other relatives, to share a story with your child too. Older kids will love showing off their reading skills to a younger child. And so will your child. Encourage him to read to a younger relative, neighbor or even to one of his stuffed animals.
2. Turn your whole house into a reading lesson for your very early reader. Make labels for everything your child sees or uses: door, wall, sofa, bed, light switch, refrigerator, television.
3. Give your child practice reading directions by following a recipe together. Choose a simple recipe and be sure it's to make something your child enjoys. Have her read the directions out loud to you. Work together, step by step. Then enjoy!
4. Make your child a reading detective. Write clues that send your child from one part of the house to another. (In nice weather, hide some clues outside, as well.) While your child is having fun, she's also getting some valuable practice in reading.
5. Try a newspaper scavenger hunt. To help your child learn about the different sections of your newspaper, give him a list of things to find, such as:
*A picture of a famous athlete.
*The temperature in your town yesterday.
*A favorite cartoon.
*The time his favorite television program starts.
*The title of a program at your local library.
*The movie schedule for your local theater.
Give your child the list, a pair of scissors, some glue and your newspaper. As he finds the items, have him cut them out and paste them to his paper. If more than one child wants to play, make up a separate list and use yesterday's paper as well.
Remember, five years from now, your child won't remember the night you left the dishes in the sink. But he'll treasure forever the time you spent reading with him.