Reading is all about letting children into another world, says Perri Klass, director of Reach Out and Read.
Here are some Reach Out and Read tips to help parents "raise a reader":
- Talk about the pictures. You don't have to read a book to tell a story.
- Let your child turn the pages.
- Show your child the cover page. Explain the story.
- Show your child the words. Run your finger along the words as you read them.
- Make the story come alive. Make up voices or use your body to tell the story.
- Ask questions about the story: "What's going to happen next?" or "What's that?"
- Let your child tell the story. Children as young as 3 years old can memorize a whole story.
- A few minutes of reading time is OK. Young children can only sit for a few minutes, but as they grow, they will sit longer.