Benefits of reading early
Numerous studies have identified the many benefits of early literacy development, benefits that last throughout childhood and beyond:
• Expanded vocabulary and writing skills
• Healthy social and emotional development
• Longer attention spans, promoting better retention of information in school
• Enhanced imaginative and critical thinking skills
• Enhanced memory and higher levels of concentration
• Research suggests that early readers stay ahead of children who learn later in life
• Children who already know how to read when entering school are more likely to have higher self-esteem than children who don’t
• Better readers are more likely to remain and enjoy school and even enter College than poor readers
Bibliography
Benefits of reading
- Language and speech development: Many a times children do not speak up as they fear embarrassing themselves and therefore do not want to risk their dignity. By reading to a child, it makes it easier for him/her to develop speech and communication skills as they will be more likely to express themselves when we interact with them and the characters in the book
- Vocabulary and pronunciation: By looking at a picture in a book or a word and then hearing how it is pronounced out loud, children can learn new words along with their pronunciation. This would allow them to enhance their vocabulary which allows them to use appropriate words to convey their feelings.
- Vocabulary and pronunciation: By looking at a picture in a book or a word and then hearing how it is pronounced out loud, children can learn new words along with their pronunciation. This would allow them to enhance their vocabulary which allows them to use appropriate words to convey their feelings.
- Academic Excellence: Numerous studies have shown that students who are exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in school. After all as English is the language in which all subjects are taught in, a better grasp of English would mean that the child would be able to better understand all other subjects.
- Preparing for higher education: Many a times when a child is not doing well in school is due to the fact that they are not paying enough attention to the class in school. Reading to the child will help him develop strong self-discipline, longer attention span and better memory retention, all of which will prepare the child for the rigorous demands of school.
- Logical thinking: As the child begin to relate the scenarios in the books to what is happening in the real world, he will become more excited about reading stories. They will also start developing their ability to grasp abstract concepts, apply logic in various scenarios, recognize cause and effect and have good judgment.
- Part of a routine: Reading to children in the afternoons or at any time can also habituate them to read on their own without the guidance of their buddies so called. As children tend to be very active and have a low attention span, this idea of making reading a habit may develop their interest in reading.
- Helping children deal with anger: Children develop ideas about how to express emotions primarily through social interaction and by watching television or movies, playing video games, and reading books. Some children have learned a negative, aggressive approach to expressing anger and when confronted with everyday anger conflicts, resort to using aggression in the classroom. Reading books will help them express their anger in a positive way.
- Life-long benefits: As a child gets older, they will read on their own, building on the interest and experience of reading and being read to for years. This sets off a life-long interest/aptitude in reading which comes in handy in any aspect of our lives especially during the school years right through college and beyond.
- Reducing stress: Studies have shown that reading reduces stress because concentrating on reading will take people’s mind off the real world which will help ease tension in muscles and the heart. Books, especially fiction, can help a person’s mind shift gears and is good even reading for a short 6 minutes.
- Higher self-esteem: Children who know how to read before they enter school will develop a higher self-esteem which can help them voice themselves out in school and make themselves heard.
- Know that reading is fun: Developing an early foundation of reading ensures that children realize that reading is an indulgence that is beneficial. Studies have shown that early reading makes children choose books over video games and television when he/she enters school.
- Enhanced concentration and discipline. Toddlers may initially squirm and become distracted during story time, but eventually they’ll learn to stay put for the duration of the book. Along with reading comprehension come a stronger self-discipline, longer attention span, and better memory retention, all of which will serve your child well when she enters school.
- Helps prioritize goals: Many times we’re certain we know what we “really want” in life. Yet activities like reading show people things they wouldn’t have known about themselves. The mind will drift to things that people would really like to do, and the same sort of goals keep popping into people’s head, allowing them to see what they really want to do.
When you remove yourself from your work environment, you’ll start to see things that you might really want to do that you’re not doing yet. Reading gives you a chance for you to wander.
- A stronger relationship with you: As your child grows older, he’ll be on the move—playing, running, and constantly exploring his environment. Snuggling up with a book lets the two of you slow down and recaptures that sweet, cuddly time you enjoyed when he was a baby. Instead of being seen as a chore or a task, reading will become a nurturing activity that will bring the two of you closer together.
- Greater tranquility
Reading can soothe like no other. Reading forces children that are very active to sit and be still. This daily act of making them quiet and still has been nothing short of miraculous for the anxiety and “fidgety factor”.
How to interest kids into reading
- Setup a "Special Reading Time" Everyday: One way to make reading fun is to set aside a regular reading time every day. Depending on your child's age, this could either be in the morning, possible at breakfast or at bedtime.
- Rules of Engagement: You should allow your child to hold the book and turn the pages as they become old enough to do so. You're involving them in the action. Don't worry if they flip more than one page as what you're seeking is engagement.
- Play the Part to Make It Interesting and Exciting: To really make reading fun you'll need to play the part of the characters in the book. Use different voices for the individual characters and be as expressive as possible as you read. Children have great imagination and you'll be helping them create movies in their minds as you read. Feel free to sing or talk about the pictures if you're reading a picture book for example.
- More coming up...: Because children have short attention span, you shouldn't expect to complete the book in a single sitting. In addition, you want to give them something to look forward. As they grow older, the amount of time that they can sit and absorb for will increase. Don't overstretch them or you'll ruin the experience.
- Show enthusiasm for your children's reading: Your reaction has a great influence on how hard they will try to become good readers. Be sure to give them genuine praise for their efforts.
- Use a variety of aids to help your children: To help your children improve their reading, use textbooks, computer programs, books-on-tape, and other materials available in stores. Games are especially good choices because they let children have fun as they work on their skills.
- Model reading behaviors: If you want your child to enjoy reading, you must show that you, too, take pleasure in reading for pleasure. Finding reading materials that intrigues or challenges you and reading it in front of your child will help a lot.
- Applying stories in novel to situations in real life: When your child makes a connection between the two, his interest in reading will increase.
- Practice: If your child is younger, help him understand basic reading concepts, including reading right to left, rhyming words and site words, and phonetic decoding.
- Incentives: Offer children bonuses when they finish reading. These sorts of things and presents are a real help for children. They will devote themselves to reading when they know that there is something in store for them at the end of the day.
- Start reading with ears: Most people think that reading starts with looking but actually reading starts through the ear. A foundation can be laid when a child listens to people read and play auditory games.
Bibliography:
Progression of reading
Ages 6-10:
Kids learn to:
- read simple books by mid-first grade and know about 100 common words
- understand that letters represent sounds, which form words
- enjoy a variety of types of stories and talk about characters, settings and events
- remember the names and sounds of all letters and recognize upper and lowercase
- read independently and fluently by third grade
- sound out unfamiliar words when reading
Ages 11-13: "reading to learn"
Kids learn to:
- read to learn about their hobbies and other interests and to study for school
- comprehend more fully what they've read
- read fiction, including chapter books, and nonfiction, including magazines and newspapers
Reading problems
What mystifies many parents is where and why the reading process breaks down. Although, problems may occur in any area, decoding, comprehension, or retention, the root of most reading problems, in the view of many experts, is decoding.
Reading Facts: Roughly 85% of children diagnosed with learning difficulties have a primary problem with reading and related language skills. Reading difficulties are neurodevelopmental in nature, which means that the problems don't go away. However, it should be noted that having neurodevelopmental problems do not mean that a student cannot learn or progress in school and life.
Decoding Difficulties: Decoding is the process by which a word is broken into individual phonemes. For instance, proficient decoders separate the sounds "buh," "aah," and "guh" in the word "bag." Someone who has difficulty decoding, and thus difficulty reading easily, may not hear and differentiate these phonemes. "Buh," "aah," and "guh" might be meaningless to them in relation to the word "bag" on the page.
Signs of decoding difficulty:
- Trouble sounding out words and recognizing words out of context
- Confusion between letters and the sounds they represent
