I have three children under 10, and I know exactly what it is like to sit in a room with a book cracked open and try to read to them. Sometimes they are excited and pointing to the pages as we read, and other times my toddler is wandering around the room, clearly uninterested.
In those moments, it is easy to feel defeated and give up, but I know that there is value in what I do. So I trudge along and continue reading, all while making silly voices and pointing to what I see on the pages. Some days, my toddler ignores me and continues to play, but other times, she dashes across the room and into my lap to see what’s happening. To be quite honest, sometimes she just walks straight out of the room to find something else to do too!
As a parent, reading aloud to my children can sometimes feel awkward, tiresome, or pointless. As a specialist in reading and language arts, I know the time I spend reading to them is one of the best gifts I can give them to set them up for academic success in their futures.
So, what do I do? Do I give up in the awkward moments and go find something else to do (there are always dishes that need washing and laundry that needs folding), or do I find a way to connect with my toddler and dive into reading?
To be quite honest, if reading to your children is new (to you and them), they may not yet know the behaviors associated with reading itself. It takes time to develop a habit, and the more you read and apply the strategies, the more comfortable you will all feel. And, in the world of parenting, we all know that we can try and try and try, and try again, and our greatest plans just crash and burn. So, don’t beat yourself up. Don’t compare yourself to other parents. Do what you can, and try again another day. Your love is the greatest gift you can give your child, regardless of how often you read to them.
Five Ways to Engage Your Preschooler When Reading Aloud
1. SNUGGLE UP Toddlers love to snuggle, lean in, and watch a story unfold as someone reads aloud to them. Turn off the screens, grab a book, and find a quiet place to enjoy reading together. We like the couch, but we often read on the bedroom floor, with books sprawled out around us.
2. MAKE OBSERVATIONS Start with the front cover of the book. Read the title and run your finger across it as you read. Point out the author’s name and tell them this is the author. Look at the bright colors and identify a few. Point to a character and ask your child, “Who is this?” Chances are, if this is a beloved book you’ve read again and again, they are going to be able to tell you exactly who it is, and maybe even something from the story.
3. MAKE VOICES Can it feel awkward? Yes. Does your toddler care? No! Toddlers love the playful voices readers make during storytime, and your voices help them understand the differences between narration and character dialogue too. Not only are you engaging with them in fun play, but you are cementing key components of narrative story development!
4. ASK QUESTIONS Asking questions is an excellent way to get your little budding reader to focus on characteristics of story structure, character development, illustrations, and more. You do not need to ask questions on each page. In fact, depending on your toddler’s age, one or two questions per book is plenty. The goal is to engage them in the story, not quiz them on what they read/saw. Simple questions such as, “What do you see?” or “Who is that?” (while pointing at a character) are great. As children get older, ask more complex questions such as, “What is ___ feeling right here?” or “Why do you think they chose to do that?”
5. READ ANYWAY Yes, keep reading when they wander away from you. Toddlers have short attention spans—you know this. They are easily distracted, and if big brother/sister or a new toy catches their eye, they may just mosey on over to the other side of the room. Don’t. Stop. Reading. Your toddler can still hear you, and you can use any of the above strategies to engage them in the book. Will they always come back to you? No, but that is okay. They may continue to play in the vicinity of where you are reading as they listen to the story unfold, or they may just wander on up and out of the room! You do not need to follow them. I’ve always believed that some reading is better than no reading.
CHRISTA KILE is a mother of three and teacher with over 15 years of experience in the field of education. As a Credentialed Reading Specialist, she has dedicated her career to helping students develop their literacy skills and fostering a love for reading.
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