Reading Tips for Parents of Preschoolers (Adapted from readingrockets.org)

Read early and often.  The early years are critical to developing a lifelong love of reading.  It's never too early to begin reading to your child!  The following tips offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader.  Try a new tip each week and see what works best for your preschooler.

• Read together every day.  Make this a warm and loving time with your child.
• Build your child's vocabulary by talking about interesting words and objects.  For example, "Look at that airplane!  Those are the wings of the plane.  Why do you think they are called wings?"
• Say how much you enjoy reading with your child.  
• Read with fun in your voice, with humor and expression.  Use different voices for different characters.
• Know when to stop.  Put the book away for a while if your child loses interest or is having trouble sitting still.
• Be interactive.  Discuss what's happening in the book, point things out on the page, and ask questions.
• Read it again and again.  Go ahead and read your child's favorite book for the 100th time!
• Talk about writing too.  Mention to your child how we read from left to right and how words are separated by spaces.  
• Point out print everywhere.  Talk about written words you see in the world around you.  Ask your child to find a new word each outing.