November is Family Literacy Month. As a former teacher, parent and now grandparent, I know the value of reading to children. There are so many resources to help put books in children's hands, beginning of course with the public libraries. Go to the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library website or Facebook page and you can literally count on some type of program happening every day that encourages children and families to read. Too busy to head to the library in person? Virtual libraries increased dramatically during the pandemic. Go to You Tube and type in a book and you'll have a number of choices of people reading that book out loud. ALL FREE.
Why read to your child? Start with cognitive development. "Feeding" the brain so that it continues to want more. Isn't that what we want for our kids? A love of learning? Wanting to know more?
How about vocabulary? We all talk to children but think about a time, when reading, when you came across a word you didn't know. Maybe you looked it up in the dictionary or more recently Googled it. Did you find yourself using that word? Exactly!
Reading improves memory. When finishing a book, question your child about the story. What happened? Who were the main characters? Was it a happy ending? Did it make you smile? Laugh? Cry?
Following a story requires focus. Wait--why did that just happen? It had something to do with what happened ten pages ago. Oh, that's right! Concentration is key to learning new concepts and remembering details.
And, best of all, enjoying a story or book together builds a bond. Have you ever read a book and then come across another adult reading that book? Don't you want to ask if they enjoy it? What is their opinion of the ending? Did they like the main character?
A love of reading begins early and can be as simple as a picture book. Be sure to check out the many resources available locally and on the internet to help your child's love of reading grow!
