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From time to time, mothers, fathers, and teachers are challenged by various parts of the learning process for young people, including reading. Therefore, we’d like to share some easy ideas to help children and young people to read more during the holiday period.
In this article, we will focus on emerging and growing readers.
3-5 years: early readers
Give each reading its time
When reading aloud, pause and draw attention to the different elements that make up a work, from the cover image to each of the pages. In this way, your child or student will become aware of the content of the story, including the focus, tone, etc. The simple gesture of paying attention to the letters that make up the title and the author’s name will help them develop an awareness of how the title is connected to the story, as well as to its author, the person who invented it.
Inventing stories
Invite your child or student to continue a story or, better yet, retell their favorite from images. This will help them to understand the importance of the image and to interiorize the basic structure of a story: introduction, climax, and denouement. This practice, once assimilated into a game, can be extended to any situation, without the need for a book. On the balcony, for example, choose a person who passes by and invent a story about him or her; or comment on what a day at school would be like if it were invaded by aliens.
Enjoy some extra reading activities
We highly recommend doing some extra reading activities (physical or virtual) from an early age: listen to a storyteller, visit a space linked to reading in its different dimensions (a library where you can borrow a book, a museum where you can enjoy “reading the image” from its catalog…), make some crafts based on your favorite readings, etc. The more reading opportunities a child has at their disposal, the better.
6-8 years: flourishing readers
Create a space for reading
This idea can be carried out earlier on in a child’s development. However, when children begin to formally learn to read, it becomes especially necessary to think of a special and adequate space for reading, just as they have a desk and chair for studying. There is no need to make life too complicated. A cushion, a comfortable chair or armchair, and adequate light are the basic ingredients. With a little imagination (and with your help) you can go a little further: arranging something like an original decoration on the wall, an improvised tent that gives you privacy, etc. can give you that special touch. Reading can still be primarily a shared act to make clarifications, to assess the level of a child’s understanding, and above all to maintain the emotional component of this practice.
Set up some reading routines
Reading can be practiced at any time, anywhere in the house and at school. With songs, audiobooks, and poetry; by reading the instructions for a school assignment in the classroom, or a recipe in the kitchen. But with the wide range of activities on offer, it is also easy to miss out on reading time. Children need routines to make reading a habit, just like picking up their things to put in their school bag or brushing their teeth after a meal. Ten minutes is enough to get started.
Expand the spectrum of reading proposals and activities
If your son or daughter, your pupil, has become familiar with reading in his or her early years, the time has come to expand the range of genres and formats. From the age of six onwards, it is especially important that they read in digital format as well. Ebooks, audiobooks, videos… these are reading materials that, in addition to bringing stories closer and providing knowledge, will help them to develop digital skills. In this age group you can already start thinking about creating a profitable reading path. It is important not to skimp on reading. From this age onwards, readers begin to define their tastes, so if they like a reading, it is good that related proposals are made available to them. You must provide your son or daughter, your student, with all kinds of opportunities to access reading.
Elisa Yuste – ODILO School Product Owner
More information: https://www.elisayuste.com/